The courtroom was silent as Judge Harrison opened the folded verdict slip, his expression unreadable. Every breath felt heavy, and the pounding of Victoria’s heart was so loud in her ears that it drowned out the faint sounds of rustling paper and shuffling feet.
Louis squeezed her hand one last time, his grip firm but reassuring, as they both waited for the words that would change everything.
Judge Harrison glanced up from the slip, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on the jury. “On the charge of first-degree murder,” he began, his voice steady, “how does the jury find the defendant, Victoria Sebastian?”
The foreperson stood, the weight of the room pressing down on her shoulders as she spoke. “We find the defendant… guilty.”
Victoria’s world shattered in an instant. Th
