Six months later, the summer heat hung thick over downtown Dallas. Inside the high-ceilinged courtroom of the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building, Marcus Miller sat at the defense table in a dull orange jumpsuit, his hands handcuffed to a heavy waist chain.
His hair was messy, his eyes hollow and dark. Beside him sat a court-appointed public defender, casually flipping through a stack of legal filings.
Across the aisle, Chloe sat quietly in the front row of the gallery, wearing a crisp navy-blue maternity suit, looking radiant and healthy as she neared her final month of pregnancy.
Judge Ellison: "Court is now in session. Case number 24-CR-8891, the State of Texas versus Marcus Miller."
Prosecutor: "Your Honor, the state presents a signed plea agreement agreed upon by the defendant and his counsel."
Judge Ellison: "Mr. Miller, do you understand that by pleading guilty to two counts of grand larceny and one count of corporate forgery, you waive your right to a jury trial?"
Marcus swallowed hard, his dry throat clicking as he looked over his shoulder at Chloe.
Marcus: "Yes, Your Honor."
Judge Ellison: "And you acknowledge that the state's evidence, including bank records and video footage, proves you systematically stole over four million dollars from the Vance Trust?"
Marcus: "Yes, Your Honor..."
Judge Ellison: "Is there anything you wish to say before I pronounce sentencing?"
Marcus stood up awkwardly, his waist chain rattling against his orange jumpsuit as he turned to face Chloe directly.
Marcus: "Chloe... I know I ruined everything. I know I broke your heart. But please... let me see my child when he's born. Don't erase me completely."
Chloe stood up calmly, holding her hands over her stomach as she spoke directly to the judge.
Chloe: "Your Honor, may I address the court briefly?"
Judge Ellison: "You may, Miss Vance."
Chloe: "Marcus doesn't care about our child, Your Honor. He only wants access to my child so he can maintain a link to my family's fortune. I have already filed for a complete termination of his parental rights based on his felony convictions."
Marcus slumped his shoulders, his head falling toward his chest as a quiet sob escaped his lips.
Judge Ellison: "Under Texas law, given the severity of the financial crimes and the breach of trust, I am sentencing you, Marcus Miller, to seven years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice."
Marcus: "Seven years?! Your Honor, please! I have no prior record!"
Judge Ellison: "You stole from the woman you claimed to love while she carried your child, Mr. Miller. You deserve every single day of that sentence. Bailiff, remand the defendant."
The guards grabbed Marcus by his arms, leading him through the side door toward the holding cells as he wept loudly, his waist chain clanking against the linoleum floor.