Chapter 16: The Deposition
Three weeks had passed since the night the Vance estate had been swarmed by police. The transition from the sprawling, suffocating mansion to the sleek, modern penthouse had been abrupt, but entirely necessary.
Clara sat in the plush leather chair of the District Attorney's office, dressed not in a starched maid's uniform, but in a soft, tailored emerald blouse and dark slacks that Ethan had insisted she buy. Her arm was out of the sling, the deep purple bruising having faded to a dull yellow.
"You've been incredibly brave, Clara," District Attorney Miller said, closing the thick file on his desk. "Your testimony today corroborates the financial records perfectly. Victoria Vance, along with Dr. Aris and her parents, have all been denied bail."
Ethan sat beside Clara, his presence a steady, grounding force. "What kind of timeline are we looking at for the trial?"
"Given the mountain of evidence, her defense team is already pushing for a plea deal," Miller replied, adjusting his glasses. "She’s looking at twenty years in federal prison, minimum. Attempted murder, conspiracy, and wire fraud. She will never be a threat to your family again."
Clara exhaled a breath she felt like she had been holding for almost a month. She looked over at Ethan, who gave her a reassuring nod. They walked out of the courthouse together, stepping into the bright afternoon sun. The paparazzi were waiting, cameras flashing like strobe lights, but Marcus and his security team swiftly parted the sea of reporters, escorting them safely to the waiting SUV.
May you like
"It's really over," Clara murmured as the car pulled away from the curb.
"It is," Ethan said. "Now, we focus on healing."
