Chapter 13: The Trial of Greed
The federal courthouse in Manhattan was packed to capacity when Victor was brought in for sentencing. Stripped of his tailored suits and ruby jewelry, he looked remarkably small in an orange jumpsuit.
When the judge asked Victor if he had any remorse for his crimes, Victor sneered, remaining stubbornly defiant. "The world is divided into predators and sheep. I simply understood the market."
The judge looked down with profound disdain. "You commodified human souls, Mr. Vance. You failed to understand the fundamental law of humanity: empathy."
The gavel struck with a sharp, final blow: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, served in a maximum-security federal penitentiary.
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Adrian sat in the gallery next to Elena and Julian. As Victor was led away in chains, he caught Adrian's eye. Adrian felt no hatred, only a deep, quiet sadness for a man who had sacrificed his own humanity for fleeting power.
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