Chapter 15 - The Trial Begins
Six months passed before the trial began.
Gabriel Vance faced charges of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, fraud, extortion, and attempted murder.
Eleanor faced charges connected to Richard’s death, Evelyn’s sabotage, financial fraud, evidence tampering, kidnapping, and Clara’s false arrest.
Victor Hale and Owen Price accepted plea agreements in exchange for testimony.
The prosecution decided to try Gabriel and Eleanor separately.
Gabriel’s trial came first.
Arthur sat behind the prosecutors each morning.
Clara sat beside him.
They had not rushed into a public relationship.
She had moved into a townhouse near the boys’ school and begun training to become a licensed child counselor.
She visited the estate most afternoons.
Leo and Toby spent weekends at her home.
The arrangement was unconventional, but for the first time, every choice was made openly.
Gabriel entered the courtroom in a tailored suit.
He smiled at the jury.
His defense argued that Eleanor had controlled every decision and that Gabriel had merely followed the matriarch’s orders.
The prosecution called Victor first.
He described the forged documents, shell companies, and sabotage plan.
Gabriel’s attorney attacked his credibility.
“You lied for years.”
“Yes,” Victor said.
“You destroyed evidence.”
“Yes.”
“You helped conceal a woman’s death.”
“Yes.”
“And now you expect the jury to believe you?”
Victor looked toward Arthur.
“No.”
“I expect them to believe the recordings.”
The jury heard Eleanor accusing Gabriel of cutting the brake line.
They watched Evelyn’s garage video.
They saw financial records connecting Gabriel to the mechanic who falsified the inspection.
Then Clara testified.
She described Evelyn’s fear, the hidden envelope, the planted necklace, and the kidnapping.
Gabriel’s attorney approached her.
“You developed feelings for Arthur Vance, correct?”
Clara’s face remained calm.
“Yes.”
“While employed in his home?”
“After his wife had been dead for two years.”
“Did those feelings influence your accusation against his family?”
“No.”
“Did you hope to remove Eleanor from the household?”
“No.”
“Did you benefit financially from this scandal?”
“No.”
“You currently live in a townhouse owned by Arthur Vance.”
Clara looked toward the jury.
“The townhouse is leased in my name.”
“I pay the rent with money from my work and savings.”
The attorney smiled.
“But Mr. Vance helped secure it.”
“He provided a reference.”
“Because you are close.”
“Yes.”
“How close?”
The prosecutor objected.
The judge sustained it.
The defense attorney tried another approach.
“Is it true that the Vance children call you when they are frightened?”
“Yes.”
“Is it true you make decisions concerning their care?”
“With their father’s permission.”
“Is it true you want to become their mother?”
Clara paused.
“No.”
Gabriel’s attorney raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“They already have a mother.”
“Her name was Evelyn.”
“I want to be Clara.”
The simplicity of the answer silenced the courtroom.
On the fourth week of testimony, Owen took the stand.
His burned hands had healed, leaving thick scars.
He admitted deleting footage, setting the nursery fire, and monitoring the family.
“I believed Gabriel would protect me,” he said.
“From what?” the prosecutor asked.
“From my own crimes.”
Owen looked toward Clara.
“He told me nobody respected servants.”
“He said if Clara was blamed, the police would believe the family.”
“Did you believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Were you right?”
“For several hours.”
Clara felt Arthur’s hand tighten around hers.
The final witness was Eleanor.
She entered under guard.
Gabriel’s smile disappeared.
The prosecutor asked whether Gabriel had cut Evelyn’s brake line.
“Yes,” Eleanor said.
“Did you order him to kill Evelyn?”
“No.”
“Did you create the sabotage plan?”
“Yes.”
“Did you cover up the death?”
“Yes.”
Gabriel stared at her with hatred.
His attorney stood.
“Mrs. Vance, are you testifying in exchange for leniency?”
“No agreement has been offered.”
“You expect the jury to believe you suddenly developed a conscience?”
“No.”
Eleanor looked toward Arthur.
“I developed consequences.”
The jury deliberated for nine hours.
Gabriel was found guilty on every major charge, including Evelyn’s murder.
When the verdict was read, he turned toward Eleanor.
“You built all of this,” he shouted.
“You taught us what survival required.”
Eleanor did not look away.
“And I will answer for that.”
Arthur watched his mother leave the courtroom.
May you like
Her own trial would begin next.
This time, he knew the truth would not be easier simply because it was familiar.
