CHAPTER 8: THE PRICE OF LOYALTY

Six months later.

The state trial of Victoria Barrett was the biggest media circus of the year. The headlines screamed of corporate greed, domestic torture, and the dramatic downfall of a prominent family.

Victoria was found guilty on multiple counts, including aggravated assault, attempted murder, child endangerment, and industrial espionage. Because of her lack of remorse and her violent outburst at the hospital, the judge sentenced her to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Julian, due to his confession and his intervention at the hospital which saved Evelyn and the child, was given a lighter sentence of two years in a minimum-security facility for conspiracy and failure to report a crime.

Evelyn did not attend the sentencing. She was far away, sitting in the lush gardens of the Vance Estate, watching her son crawl on the green grass.

Her father walked out onto the patio, holding a glass of iced tea. "The news just broke. Victoria is going away for good."

Evelyn took a deep breath, feeling a massive weight lift from her shoulders. "And Julian?"

"He started his sentence today," Arthur said. "He refused to see his mother before she was transported to the state penitentiary. It seems he finally realized who she really was."

Indeed, inside the transport van, Victoria sat in her orange jumpsuit, staring out the window. She had managed to hide a small offshore bank account with fifty thousand dollars—her final reserve. She had instructed her corrupt lawyer to use that money to bail Julian out or secure him a private cell.

But as the van passed the city limits, her lawyer called her via the prison transport phone system.

"The money is gone, Victoria," the lawyer said coldly.

"What do you mean gone?!" Victoria hissed. "I hid that account perfectly!"

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"Julian found the access keys in your old apartment before he surrendered to the police," the lawyer replied. "He transferred every single dollar to the Vance Foundation for Abused Women and Children. He left a note for you. It says: 'The Barrett legacy is dead. Let it rot.'"

Victoria dropped the phone, a silent scream escaping her lips as the realization hit her: she had destroyed her life, her wealth, and the only person who had ever loved her—her own son.