Three months later, Mark stood inside the county courthouse courtroom.
Sarah sat at the defense table with her appointed public defender.
She wore a plain gray suit and looked pale and defeated.
The judge cleared his throat and called the court to order.
Judge: We are here today for the sentencing of Sarah Miller.
The prosecutor stood up and presented the final evidence to the court.
Prosecutor: The defendant attempted to steal over four hundred thousand dollars from a child.
Prosecutor: She manipulated her position of trust inside the home for personal financial gain.
The judge looked over his reading glasses at Sarah.
Judge: Mrs. Miller, do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?
Sarah stood up slowly, her hands trembling visible from the gallery.
Sarah: I made a terrible mistake because of my mountain of personal debt.
Sarah: I never meant to hurt Lily or Mark in the process.
The judge shook his head sternly, showing no sympathy for her excuse.
Judge: You hid documents inside a hole in the bedroom wall, Mrs. Miller.
Judge: That shows clear planning and malicious intent to commit financial theft.
The judge slammed his gavel down onto the hard wooden block.
Judge: I sentence you to five years in state prison without parole.
Mark let out a long breath that he had been holding for months.
Police officers led Sarah out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
She did not look back at Mark as she was escorted away through the side door.
Mark walked out of the courthouse and into the bright morning sunshine.
David Vance caught up with him on the granite front steps.
David: All of Lily's trust accounts are completely secure and locked now, Mark.
Mark: Thank you for everything you did to protect my daughter, David.
David: She is a very brave little girl for speaking up that day.
Mark drove back to his mother's house to pick up Lily for school.
The legal fight was finally over, and their lives could return to normal.