Chapter 8
The jury deliberated for 12 hours.
We waited in the courthouse cafeteria. My mom drank coffee. My dad paced. Mia held my hand.
Det. Carter came by every hour. Told us to be patient.
“These things take time,” he said. “They have a lot of evidence to go through.”
At 10 PM, the bailiff came in.
“They have a verdict,” he said.
My heart stopped.
We walked back into the courtroom. It was packed. Reporters. Family. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.
Lila was brought in. She looked terrified. Her face was pale, her hands shaking.
The judge looked at the jury.
“Have you reached a verdict?” he asked.
The foreman stood up.
“We have, Your Honor,” he said.
He handed a piece of paper to the bailiff. The bailiff handed it to the judge. The judge read it. Nodded.
Handed it back.
“Will the defendant please rise?”
Lila stood. Her legs were shaking so bad she could barely stay up. Her lawyer held her arm.
The foreman read the verdict.
“On the count of aggravated assault causing great bodily harm… we find the defendant, Lila Marie Carter, guilty.”
The courtroom erupted.
My mom cried. My dad squeezed my shoulder so hard it hurt. Mia hugged me.
Lila collapsed. Her lawyer caught her.
The foreman continued.
“On the count of tampering with evidence… guilty.”
“On the count of filing a false police report… guilty.”
“On the count of witness intimidation… guilty.”
Four counts.
Four guilty verdicts.
The judge banged his gavel.
“Order!” he yelled. “Order!”
He looked at Lila.
“Sentencing will be held in four weeks,” he said. “The defendant will remain in custody without bail until then.”
He banged his gavel again.
“Court adjourned.”
Lila was led out in handcuffs. She looked back at me. Her face was twisted with rage. With hate.
But I didn’t care.
She was guilty.
She was going to prison.
It was over.
Outside the courthouse, reporters swarmed us. Shouted questions.
“Mia! How does it feel to win?”
“Are you going to sue Lila’s family?”
“Will you still be going to Northwestern?”
My dad put his arm around me. Led me through the crowd.
“No comment,” he said.
We got in the car. Drove home.
No one said anything the whole ride.
When we got home, my mom made hot chocolate. We sat in the living room. The fire was going. The Christmas tree was still up—we’d been too busy with the trial to take it down.
My dad looked at me.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said. “You stood up there. You told the truth. You didn’t let her break you.”
He wiped a tear from his eye.
“I know I let you down,” he said. “But I’m never going to let that happen again. Ever.”
I smiled.
“I know, Dad,” I said.
That night, I slept better than I had in months.
No nightmares. No fear.
Just peace.
Four weeks later, we went back to court for sentencing.
The prosecution asked for 10 years. Said Lila had shown no remorse. Said she’d planned the attack for months. Said she was a danger to the community.
Lila’s lawyer asked for probation. Said she was young. Said she’d made a mistake. Said she’d never do it again.
Lila spoke.
She didn’t apologize.
She just glared at me.
“I’m not sorry,” she said. “She stole my life. I was just taking back what was mine.”
The judge shook his head.
“Lila Carter,” he said. “You committed a brutal, premeditated attack on a member of your own family. You tried to frame her. You tried to ruin her life. You showed no remorse. No regret.”
He leaned forward.
“For the count of aggravated assault causing great bodily harm… I sentence you to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.”
“For the count of tampering with evidence… two years, to be served consecutively.”
“For the count of filing a false police report… one year, consecutive.”
“For the count of witness intimidation… one year, consecutive.”
He paused.
“Total sentence… seven years in prison. With no possibility of parole for the first four.”
He banged his gavel.
Lila screamed. Threw herself at the table. Yelled that the judge was corrupt. That I’d paid him off.
The guards dragged her out.
Karen screamed after her. Tried to run after her. The guards held her back.
It was over.
Truly over.
As we walked out of the courtroom, Det. Carter pulled me aside.
“One more thing,” he said. “Karen was arrested this morning. Charged with perjury for lying on the stand. She’s looking at up to five years herself.”
I stared at him.
“Really?” I said.
He nodded.
“Justice for everyone,” he said.
He smiled.
“Good luck, Mia,” he said. “You’re going to be an amazing doctor.”
He walked away.
I looked at my parents. At Mia.
May you like
The sun was shining.
It was a beautiful day.
