Chapter 7
The trial began six months later,
drawing massive crowds and media attention.
Adrian sat in the front row,
wearing a sharp tailored black suit.
He watched Philip sweat under pressure,
stuttering on the wooden witness stand.
The prosecutor was ruthless and sharp,
tearing apart every single fabricated lie.
The video of the late-night tampering,
was played on a massive courtroom screen.
The jury gasped in total shock,
watching a man try to kill his nephew.
Celeste had taken a plea deal,
turning against her husband for lesser time.
She cried on the stand loudly,
blaming everything on her greedy mother-in-law.
Beatrice sat at the defense table,
staring daggers at her treacherous daughter-in-law.
The matriarch had lost her power,
and her expensive lawyers looked completely defeated.
The forensic expert took the stand next,
explaining the invisible chemical dye compound.
He showed the glowing ultraviolet photographs,
proving the poison was handled by them.
The defense tried to blame Mara again,
bringing up her past hospice accusations.
But Adrian's lawyer stepped up quickly,
presenting the real evidence from that old case.
Adrian had hired private investigators,
proving Mara was framed back then too.
The old charges were completely dismissed,
clearing her name in the public eye.
Mara cried tears of absolute relief,
sitting in the gallery holding Leo's hand.
The jury deliberated for only two hours,
returning with a swift guilty verdict.
Philip collapsed in his wooden chair,
sobbing as the heavy sentence was read.
Beatrice stood up incredibly straight,
refusing to show any sign of weakness.
But her hands trembled very slightly,
revealing the terror hiding deep inside.
They were sentenced to maximum prison time,
with absolutely no chance of early parole.
Adrian walked out of the large courthouse,
breathing in the fresh crisp autumn air.
Reporters shouted questions at his face,
flashing their bright blinding camera lights.
He ignored them and kept walking,
heading toward his waiting black luxury car.
May you like
He had won the brutal long war,
and his family was finally safe and free.
