Three months later, the Dallas County Courthouse was packed with people.
Victoria sat at the defense table wearing a plain grey jumpsuit.
Her high-priced attorney tried to argue for a light probation sentence.
The prosecutor stood up and played the backyard security video again.
The room went dead silent as the video showed the push.
Mark watched from the front row, holding Lily's hand tightly.
The judge looked down at Victoria with a stern, cold expression.
Judge: Your actions were deliberate, cruel, and completely unforgivable.
Victoria: Your Honor, I lost my temper for one second!
Judge: You endangered an innocent child for your own greed.
The judge slammed the wooden gavel down hard onto the desk.
Judge: I sentence you to ten years in state prison.
Victoria sobbed as the court bailiffs led her out the side door.
Mark let out a long breath he felt like he was holding for months.
He turned to look at Lily, who was smiling softly at him.
They walked out of the heavy courthouse doors into the afternoon sun.
Mark: How about we go get some ice cream, kiddo?
Lily: Can we get strawberry with extra sprinkles, Daddy?
Mark: As many sprinkles as you want, Lily.
They walked toward the car, leaving the dark past far behind them.