Chapter 13 - THE TRIAL
The trial lasted nine weeks.
Arthur Vance pleaded guilty.
Beatrice went to trial.
Julian testified.
Chloe testified.
Ethan testified.
My father testified.
And finally—
I testified.
The courtroom was packed.
Beatrice stared at me.
“You destroyed everything.”
I answered:
“No.”
“You took our fortune.”
“No.”
“You turned my son against me.”
“No.”
She leaned forward.
“You stole my family.”
I looked directly at her.
“You destroyed your own family.”
The jury found her guilty on every major count.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
Money laundering.
Kidnapping.
Witness intimidation.
Attempted murder.
When the verdict was read, Beatrice didn't cry.
She smiled.
As officers led her away, she whispered:
“This isn't over.”
I believed her.
But I also knew something she didn't.
Her empire was gone.
Arthur was going to prison.
Chloe had entered witness protection.
Julian had resigned from every Vance company.
Ethan had disappeared to rebuild his life.
My father had returned home.
And Lily—
My daughter—
was finally sleeping in my arms.
The baby inside me kicked.
I smiled.
For the first time, there was peace.
Then my attorney entered.
He looked serious.
“What happened?”
He placed an envelope on the table.
“This arrived this morning.”
I opened it.
Inside was a DNA report.
I read the first line.
Then the second.
My hands began shaking.
The baby's biological father wasn't Julian.
It wasn't Ethan.
It wasn't anyone I expected.
I looked at the final line.
BIOLOGICAL FATHER: UNKNOWN VANCE PATERNAL DESCENDANT.
I stared at my attorney.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
He whispered:
“There is another Vance heir.”
