Chapter 7 - The Trial and Total Annihilation
The trial of United States v. Arthur Vance, Marcus Thorne, and Victoria Sterling-Cross was dubbed the corporate trial of the decade.
For four intense days, the defense tried to dismantle Julian’s evidence, claiming entrapment and corporate paranoia. Victoria took the stand in tears, wearing a modest black dress, attempting to play the innocent fiancée who was caught in the middle of a family feud.
"I loved Julian," Victoria sobbed to the jury. "I was just heartbroken and confused after his accident! I was lash out because I was grieving!"
Then, prosecutor Sarah Sterling called Lily Miller to the stand.
Lily stepped up to the witness box with absolute calm. Under oath, she presented the authenticated audio logs from the estate's internal security system from the night of the gala—recordings that captured Victoria mocking Julian in the hallway before entering the ballroom, explicitly discussing how she would divide his estate with Marcus once he was declared incapacitated.
The courtroom gasped. Victoria’s face drained of all color as her own cruel voice echoed through the speakers, bragging about buying a yacht with Julian’s life insurance policy.
The jury took less than forty-five minutes to return a verdict: Guilty on all counts.
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Arthur Vance was sentenced to twenty-five years in federal prison. Marcus Thorne received eighteen years without parole. Victoria and her mother were convicted of grand larceny and conspiracy, receiving eight-year sentences alongside complete asset forfeiture. Everything Victoria had stolen was seized to repay Vance Global's legal fees and charity funds.
As Victoria was led away in handcuffs, crying hysterically, she caught sight of Lily standing next to Julian. For the first time, Victoria had nothing left to say. Her world of shallow cruelty had completely collapsed.
