Chapter 10 - The VerdictAfter two consecutive days of trial, the verdict was delivered.
Kate was sentenced to 25 years in state prison without the possibility of early parole for aggravated child abuse, intentional poisoning, unlawful confinement, and grand larceny.
All assets registered under Kate’s name were frozen and seized to compensate for the severe psychological damage inflicted on Lily and Owen.
As officers escorted Kate past the gallery, she stopped, looking at me with desperate, hollow eyes: "Mark... please... tell the kids I’m sorry..."
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I looked at her, my expression devoid of any emotion: "Save your apology for my sister in the ground. Never speak my children's names again."
Kate collapsed, dragged away by two guards amidst the angry jeers of the courtroom crowd.
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Chapter 11 - A New HomeI decided to sell the old mansion. It held too many dark memories.
Chapter 12 - Healing the ScarsTime is a miraculous healer, but deep emotional scars do not fade overnight.
Chapter 13 - Emily’s LetterWhile organizing Emily’s old belongings to bring into our new home, I found a locked wooden chest hidden beneath her wardrobe.
Chapter 14 - Rebuilding TrustMonths bled into a quiet rhythm. In our new coastal home, the sea breeze seemed to wash away the heavy scent of fear that had once defined our lives.
Chapter 15 - An Unexpected VisitorOne rainy afternoon, a black sedan pulled up outside our gate. A middle-aged woman carrying a leather briefcase stepped out into the drizzle. It was Inspector Sarah Vance, the chief investigator who had handled Kate’s case.
Chapter 16 - The Shadow of the PastInspector Vance hesitated before reaching back into her briefcase. "There is one more thing. While searching Kate’s old apartment, we found a safety deposit box key. Inside was a series of unsent letters addressed to you over the past three years."
