Chapter 14 - THE VERDICT
The trial lasted three weeks.
The evidence was overwhelming. The letters. The DNA. The witness testimony. The video. Clara’s account. The financial records. The surveillance.
Vanessa sat in court every day. Calm. Quiet. She looked exactly like the woman I had once loved. But I looked at her now and saw only the girl who had loved her sister too much and not enough at the same time.
On the final day, she stood. Her lawyer asked if she wished to speak.
She looked at the judge. Then at me. Then at the ground.
“I killed my sister,” she said clearly. “I pushed her. I meant to hurt her. I meant to scare her. But I did not mean to kill her. That part… that part I will regret forever.”
She paused.
“I took her life. I wore her face. I lied to everyone I loved. And I tried to hurt her children. I was jealous. And selfish. And broken. And I am sorry. Not because I was caught. But because I became exactly what she never wanted me to be.”
She looked at me one last time.
“I loved you, Adrian. But I loved the life I could have with you. Not the life we actually had. And that was never enough. I am sorry I took her from you. I am sorry I left you with nothing but ghosts.”
She sat down.
The judge delivered the verdict two days later.
Guilty. On all counts.
Life imprisonment. No parole.
Vanessa showed no emotion. She stood quietly while the sentence was read. And as she was led away, she looked at me one last time.
No anger. No plea. Just a quiet, terrible goodbye.
I walked out of the courthouse. Into bright sunlight. Sophie and Elena were waiting for me. Sophie ran into my arms.
“Is it over?” she asked.
May you like
I looked down at her. At Lydia’s eyes. At Lydia’s smile.
“Yes, baby. It’s over.”
