Chapter 11 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for less than two hours.
When they returned to the courtroom, the atmosphere was tense.
Ryan sat in the front row, holding Maya's hand tightly in his own.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked.
"We have, Your Honor," the foreperson replied, standing up.
"On count one, felony child endangerment, we find the defendant, Evelyn Whitmore, guilty."
"On count two, second-degree assault, we find the defendant guilty."
"On count three, tampering with evidence, we find the defendant guilty."
A quiet gasp rippled through the gallery.
Evelyn did not flinch, but her fingers gripped the edge of the wooden table until her knuckles turned white.
The judge looked down at the defense table with stern disapproval.
"The defendant will remain remanded in custody without bail until sentencing," the judge declared.
"Court is adjourned."
As the guards stepped forward to handcuff Evelyn once more, she turned to look at Ryan one last time.
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For the first time in his life, Ryan did not see a powerful, terrifying matriarch.
He only saw a desperate, lonely woman whose arrogance had finally destroyed everything around her.
