Four months later, the high ceilings of the Dallas County Courthouse were filled with reporters, lawyers, and spectators. Victoria sat at the defense table wearing a dark grey prison uniform. Her blonde hair was dull and unwashed, and her face looked thin without any makeup.
Sitting across the aisle was Christopher in a dark grey suit, with his chief attorney, Mr. Lawson, sitting right next to him. Margarethe sat in the front row of the gallery, wearing a neat navy dress.
Judge Harris: "This court is now in session for the case of State of Texas versus Victoria Vance."
District Attorney: "Your Honor, the prosecution has shown clear digital video, bank records, and recorded phone calls proving the defendant stole three hundred thousand dollars from the Vance Family Foundation while threatening the home staff."
Defense Lawyer: "Your Honor, my client was under extreme mental pressure due to business failures. She is asking for probation and community service."
Judge Harris: "Counsel, your client stole money intended for children in need and used physical and emotional abuse to keep her actions secret. That is not pressure. That is pure greed."
The judge looked over his glasses, staring down at Victoria, who was trembling at her chair.
Judge Harris: "Under the terms of the valid prenuptial contract presented by Mr. Vance's team, the defendant is hereby stripped of all claims to the Vance estate, including alimony, property, and cash settlements."
Victoria: "Your Honor, please! I have nothing left! I don't even have money to pay my lawyer!"
Judge Harris: "You should have thought about that before you broke the law, Mrs. Vance. For the charges of grand larceny and fraud, I sentence you to six years at the State Correctional Facility."
The heavy wooden block sounded as the judge brought his gavel down with a sharp crash.
Victoria let out an awful, loud shriek as two court officers grabbed her arms, pulling her back toward the rear door of the courtroom.
Victoria: "Christopher! Look at me! Help me! You can't let them send me to prison!"
Christopher stood up, adjusting his suit jacket without looking back at her for even a second.
Christopher: "You made your choice, Victoria. Now you have to live with it."
The side doors clicked shut behind her, cutting off her screams for good. The gallery broke into soft clapping as Christopher walked over to the front row, holding out his arm for Margarethe.
Christopher: "Let's go home, Margarethe. The storm is finally over."
Margarethe: "Yes, child. Let's go home."