Chapter 19 - The Courthouse Verdict Approaches
Two months later, the Hennepin County courthouse prepared for the preliminary hearing of the state versus Ashley Miller.
Ashley stood defense-less in a gray prison jumpsuit, her designer dresses replaced by standard inmate attire.
Her public defender advised her to take a plea deal offering five years probation and full restitution, but she had no money to pay.
Arthur and Martha sat in the back row of the gallery, looking ten years older with hollowed eyes and broken spirits.
They had tried to reach out to Elena dozens of times, but every letter was returned unopened by corporate security.
The judge called the case to order, his gavel striking the wooden block with a sharp, final resonance.
May you like
Ashley looked across the courtroom toward the empty plaintiff's bench where Elena chose not to waste another minute of her life.
The realization that she was completely insignificant to the sister she tried to destroy finally broke whatever ego she had left.
