Chapter 12
Marcus's trial began two weeks later.
Without Evelyn's testimony, he might have had a chance.
With it, he had none.
Evelyn took the stand and told the truth—well, her version of it. She painted Marcus as the mastermind, the one who'd come up with the plan, the one who'd pressured her into going along with it.
She testified about the conversations they'd had while Clara was dying. About the emails and text messages. About the day Marcus had hurt Toby.
"Marcus has always been angry," she told the court. "He resented Daniel. He resented the children. He thought they had everything he deserved."
Marcus's lawyer tried to paint Evelyn as the real villain, the one who'd manipulated her son into doing her bidding.
But the evidence was overwhelming.
The bank statements.
The emails.
The text messages.
Toby's medical records.
And my testimony.
When I took the stand, I looked directly at Marcus.
"You hurt my son," I said, my voice steady. "You terrified my daughter. You stole from their future. And you did it while my wife was dying. While I was grieving. While my children needed protection the most. You're not just a thief, Marcus. You're a coward. And you're going to pay for what you did."
The jury deliberated for less than two hours.
They found Marcus guilty on all counts.
The judge sentenced him to fifteen years in prison, with no possibility of parole.
As the guards led him away, Marcus looked over at me.
His face was twisted with rage.
"This isn't over," he mouthed.
But I knew it was.
He was going to prison.
For a long time.
And my children were safe.
After the trial, Sarah and I stood on the steps of the courthouse.
Reporters surrounded us, asking questions, taking pictures.
But I barely noticed them.
I felt a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time.
"It's over," Sarah said, smiling.
"Thank you," I said. "For everything."
"You did the hard part," she said. "You stood up for your children. You fought for them. That's what matters."
I drove to Mrs. Henderson's house to pick up the children.
Toby ran to me when I walked in the door.
"Did you win, Daddy?" he asked.
I knelt down and hugged him.
"Yes, buddy," I said. "We won."
Lily toddled over and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Home now?" she asked.
"Home now," I said.
As we drove home, I looked in the rearview mirror at my children.
Toby was looking out the window, a small smile on his face.
Lily was singing to herself, holding her favorite stuffed rabbit.
They were safe.
They were happy.
May you like
And justice had been served.
Everything was going to be okay.
