Chapter 15 - THE VERDICT BEFORE THE VERDICT
The civil jury found my punch justified self-defense.
Zero damages.
Celeste laughed when the verdict was read.
Not happy.
Broken.
Then she clapped.
Slowly.
The judge warned her.
She kept clapping.
Deputies removed her.
Outside, reporters asked how I felt.
“Relieved.”
“Vindicated?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because none of this should have happened.”
That answer disappointed them.
No revenge quote.
No victory dance.
Dad squeezed my shoulder.
Then winced because his wrist was still healing.
“You’re getting old.”
He stared at me.
“Cruel.”
Harrow Crest’s restructuring closed two days later.
Employees received back-pay schedules.
Independent monitors took control.
Victor lost his board seat.
His voting shares moved into a supervised trust.
Celeste’s trust was frozen pending restitution.
Blackthorn survived.
Margaret sold part of the estate voluntarily to pay debt.
Adrian moved out.
For the first time in his life, he rented an apartment.
He told me the sink leaked.
I said.
“Call maintenance.”
He said.
“I am maintenance.”
I laughed.
I did not forgive him.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
Then prosecutors offered Celeste a plea.
Seven years.
She refused.
She wanted trial.
Her lawyer begged.
She fired him.
Hired another.
Then fired that one.
At trial, she testified.
Against advice.
The prosecutor asked why she hired Ross Dane.
“To investigate Elias Mercer.”
“Why?”
“Because he threatened my family.”
“Did you tell Ross to frighten him?”
“No.”
Ross testified next.
Yes.
Then Rosa.
Then Maria.
Then Adrian.
Then Victor.
Celeste watched her father take the stand.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Victor admitted paying settlements.
Hiding complaints.
Protecting her.
Then the prosecutor asked.
“Did your protection make her worse?”
Victor cried.
“Yes.”
Celeste whispered.
“Coward.”
Victor heard.
He looked at her.
“No.”
His voice shook.
“I was a coward when I kept saving you.”
----
(To be continued)
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