Chapter 8 - The Hammer of Justice
The jury took less than forty-five minutes to deliberate. When they returned to the courtroom, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.
"On the first count of first-degree felony assault of a minor, how do you find the defendant?" the judge asked.
"We find the defendant, Preston Sterling, guilty," the foreperson announced clearly.
"On the second count of child endangerment and corporate fraud, how do you find the defendant?"
"Guilty."
Preston collapsed onto the defense table, howling and crying like a spoiled child losing his toys. The judge slammed her gavel down, her face dark with judicial anger.
"Preston Sterling, your actions are a testament to the absolute rot that occurs when wealth is used to shield a human being from basic morality," the judge declared. "You intentionally assaulted an innocent eight-year-old child to protect your own corporate greed. I sentence you to fifteen years in the state penitentiary, without the possibility of early parole."
As the guards unceremoniously dragged a screaming, sobbing Preston out of the courtroom toward the transport van that would take him to his permanent prison cell, Evelyn stood up. She didn't look at her parents, who were weeping in the back row. She simply picked up Sophie, placed a warm kiss on her cheek, and walked out into the brilliant afternoon sunshine.
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The press swarmed her, their microphones pushing into her face. "Evelyn! How do you feel about the verdict? What will you do with the Sterling corporate empire now?"
Evelyn stopped, looking directly into the primary camera lens, knowing her message would reach millions of people worldwide. "The Sterling Development Group is gone. Tomorrow, it will be rebranded as The Sophie Foundation—a firm dedicated entirely to building affordable housing and providing free legal protection for victims of domestic abuse. The wolves have finally been cleared from the forest."
