Chapter 15 - CLOSING THE CASE FOR GOOD
Sentencing day arrived under a brilliant autumn sky that mirrored the clarity of my new life. Standing before the bench in a sharp navy courtroom suit, I delivered a brief victim impact statement, emphasizing that true justice isn't about vengeance, but about establishing unbreakable boundaries. The judge sentenced Jasmine Martinez to seven years in state prison with mandatory restitution for legal damages and digital restoration costs.
As the bailiff led a sobbing Jasmine out of the courtroom in handcuffs, I felt an extraordinary, weightless peace settle over my shoulders. Walking out of the courthouse steps into the warm sunshine beside Nathan, I realized the frightened, insecure girl who used to laugh off high school insults was gone forever. In her place stood a woman who locked her windows, trusted her instincts, and knew with absolute certainty that no one could ever steal what she had built with her own mind and hands.
