Chapter 11: The Verdict
It took the jury less than three hours. Guilty of felony child endangerment. The judge, looking down at Beatrice with thinly veiled contempt, handed down the maximum sentence: three years in a state facility, plus a permanent restraining order. When the cuffs clicked around Beatrice’s wrists, Clara felt no joy, only a profound, exhausting relief. It wasn't about revenge; it was about ensuring that this woman could never hurt another child. As they walked out of the courthouse into the bright sunlight, the press swarmed, but Clara only had one thing on her mind: getting home to her daughter.
May you like
