The jury returned to the small courtroom after thirty brief minutes of private group discussion inside.
The heavy doors closed tightly behind them as everyone in the gallery sat up straight and quiet.
The judge looked at the middle-aged jury foreperson standing at the end of the front wood box.
Judge: Has the jury reached a verdict?
Foreperson: Yes, we have, Your Honor.
The stepmother stood up beside her legal advisor while holding her breath in tense silence today.
Foreperson: We find the defendant guilty on all counts.
A soft collective wave of relief swept across the crowded gallery as people nodded their heads approvingly.
The stepmother gasped loudly and dropped back down into her leather chair while covering her white face.
Stepmother: This is a massive mistake!
Judge: Silence in this courtroom right now!
The judge slammed his heavy gavel down onto the wooden desk with a sharp booming sound that echoed.
He sentenced the evil stepmother to ten full years in state prison without any early parole options.
Her expensive lawyer closed his leather briefcase with a quiet sigh of defeat beside his crying client.
Police officers escorted the defeated woman out through the side security exit door in heavy iron chains.
The father hugged his loyal attorney and smiled for the very first time in several hard weeks.
Father: Thank you for your hard work.
Prosecutor: Justice was done for your kids today.
They walked out of the big marble courthouse into the warm yellow sunshine of the bright afternoon.
Reporters bumped against each other trying to take flash photos of the wealthy businessman as he walked.
He declined to answer any personal questions and walked straight into his quiet black town car waiting.
He just wanted to get back home to his two beautiful children who were waiting for him safely.
The long dark shadow that had hung over their grand family home was finally gone for good now.
They could finally start building a peaceful new life built on honesty and true love together daily.
The father felt a deep sense of calm wash over his entire soul as the car drove away fast.