Three months had passed since that dramatic morning inside the Sterling family mansion.
The bright summer sun flooded the grand courtroom in the downtown municipal courthouse buildings.
Mark Sterling sat at the front table wearing a tailored dark navy business suit today.
Sarah sat quietly behind him in the observer row wearing her finest professional clothes.
Evelyn sat at the defense table across the room beside her high-priced legal team.
She looked pale and worn down, devoid of her former arrogant high-society posture today.
The judge cleared his throat loudly before reading the official final court rulings aloud.
The official paternity tests had confirmed that Mark was indeed little Liam's biological father.
Evelyn's frantic claims had been nothing more than paranoid delusions fueled by her guilt.
She had planned to steal funds from the family trust before abandoning the infant completely.
The judge slammed his heavy wooden gavel down onto the wooden desk with force.
Judge: Evelyn Sterling, you are hereby sentenced to four years in state custody.
Evelyn let out a sharp gasp as police officers stepped forward to place handcuffs.
Her defense lawyers bowed their heads in silent defeat as the sentence was finalized.
Mark let out a deep breath of relief that he had held for months.
He turned around in his chair to look back at Sarah with deep gratitude.
Mark: It is finally over, Sarah.
Sarah: Justice was served for sweet little Liam today, Mr. Sterling.
They walked out of the heavy courthouse doors together into the warm afternoon sunshine.
Reporters gathered near the steps, but Mark held up his hand to decline comments.
They drove back to the quiet Sterling estate in Mark's dark luxury sedan car.
The house felt warm and welcoming now, completely free of fear and dark secrets.
Little Liam was sleeping peacefully in his bright crib inside the newly renovated nursery.
Mark walked over to the crib and looked down at his sleeping son fondly.
He turned to Sarah, who was organizing the baby's clean clothes near the wardrobe.
Mark: Sarah, I want to offer you a permanent position as Liam's primary guardian manager.
Mark: You will have full executive authority over this house and a generous salary package.
Sarah smiled warmly as tears of pure happiness filled her dark gentle eyes today.
Sarah: I would be honored to stay and care for little Liam, sir.