Chapter 13 - The Trial Begins
The county courthouse was a grand, historic building of oak and marble, a stark contrast to the sterile halls of the Sterling Center. The courtroom was packed with reporters, advocates, and the families of Victoria’s victims.
Victoria Sterling sat at the defense table, attempting to project her usual aura of untouchable authority. However, the bright red power suit had been replaced by a muted, conservative gray blazer. The gold hoops were gone. She looked diminished, yet her eyes still darted around the room with a caged, desperate energy.
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The prosecution opened with a blistering account of the Sterling Behavioral Center’s operations. They painted a picture of a predatory institution that exploited the vulnerable for financial gain, using medical authority as a weapon of coercion. Victoria’s lead defense attorney immediately countered, attempting to frame Victoria as a visionary doctor who was being unfairly persecuted by angry, misguided teenagers and an overzealous military mother.
Sarah sat in the front row of the gallery, her posture perfect, her face unreadable. She wasn't wearing her uniform; she didn't need to. Her presence alone anchored the room. Beside her, Lily squeezed her mother's hand, watching the proceedings with a quiet, steely resolve.
