Chapter 12 - THE TRIAL
Eight months later, Vanessa’s trial began.
The courtroom was packed.
Reporters filled every seat.
Elena testified for nearly four hours.
Vanessa stared at her the entire time.
Elena described giving birth.
Waking to an empty bassinet.
Believing her son had died.
Finding him years later inside the home where she worked.
Then Vanessa’s attorney asked the question everyone expected.
“Why didn’t you immediately tell Mr. Blackwood?”
Elena looked toward the jury.
“Because I had been shown documents bearing his signature.”
“Documents you now know were false?”
“Yes.”
“So you made an assumption.”
“I was terrified.”
The attorney approached.
“And you continued accepting a salary from the Blackwood family.”
“Yes.”
“While secretly believing their child was yours.”
“Yes.”
“Some might call that deceptive.”
Adrian’s attorney objected.
Sustained.
But Elena did not look away.
“I did deceive them.”
The courtroom became quiet.
“I was afraid.”
“I made mistakes.”
“I wish I had been braver.”
Then she looked directly at Vanessa.
“But fear is not the same as stealing a newborn baby.”
Vanessa’s expression collapsed.
The jury heard the recordings.
Saw the financial records.
Examined the forged documents.
Charles testified.
Dr. Warren testified.
Finally, Adrian took the stand.
Vanessa’s attorney asked him whether Elena had manipulated him.
“No.”
“Do you have romantic feelings for Ms. Hayes?”
The courtroom stirred.
Elena looked at Adrian.
He could have avoided the question.
He did not.
“Yes.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
The attorney smiled.
“So your testimony may be influenced by love?”
Adrian looked directly at the jury.
“My feelings cannot change DNA.”
“They cannot forge bank records.”
“They cannot manufacture recordings.”
May you like
“And they cannot return the six years Vanessa stole from my son and his mother.”
No further questions.
