Chapter 27 - The Life Sentence
The presiding federal judge stood up, looking down at Victoria with cold, stern gravity.
"Victoria Vance, your actions demonstrate a total absence of human conscience," the judge stated firmly.
"You are hereby sentenced to two consecutive life terms in a federal maximum-security facility without parole," he ruled.
"You will spend the remainder of your natural life in a six-by-eight-foot cell," the judge added, striking his gavel.
Senator Sterling buried his face in his hands in the gallery, weeping silently as his daughter was led away in chains.
Julian stood up from his seat, taking Lily's hand as they walked out into the bright sunshine of the capital steps.
Reporters swarmed around them, holding out microphones and asking for a statement on the historic verdict.
Julian stopped at the top of the granite steps, looking directly into the main television news camera.
"Justice was served today for my wife Sarah and my daughter Lily," Julian declared calmly to the American public.
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"Our family is whole again, and the evil that entered our home has been permanently removed," he concluded.
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