Chapter 15
Christian was found guilty.
Sabrina too.
I felt no triumph.
Just a door closing.
Christian received thirty years.
Sabrina received twenty-two.
Colin received twenty-five.
Gabriel received probation and community service after cooperating, because silence has consequences even when fear explains it.
He accepted it without complaint.
Lawson’s trial revealed more victims.
A dancer whose medication was changed so she would miscarry.
An actress declared unstable after refusing a producer.
A politician’s wife sterilized without consent.
Women packed the courtroom.
Some wore scarves.
Some scars.
Some no visible wounds at all.
Lawson tried to sound clinical.
Calm.
Professional.
Then Dr. Chen testified.
She translated his cold notes into human damage.
“This is not treatment,” she said. “This is bodily control.”
The jury convicted him on every major count.
He received life.
Margaret watched from jail.
Her empire shrinking.
Her lawyers told her to plead.
She refused.
Power had made her stupid.
Before her trial, Eleanor brought me my father’s watch.
Police had recovered it from Margaret’s safe.
I held it against my chest.
“He tried to protect me.”
“Yes,” Eleanor said.
“I thought Christian helped me survive him dying.”
Eleanor’s voice softened.
“Christian made himself the bandage over the wound he helped create.”
I stared at my reflection in the watch face.
Scarred.
May you like
Alive.
Finally seeing clearly.
