Chapter 116 When Silence Falls

Chapter 116 When Silence Falls
Friday morning came with rain. Heavy, relentless rain that matched the dread in my stomach.

"Today," Adrian said as we got ready. "They'll reach a verdict today. They have to."

"How do you know?"

"Because I can't take another day of this. Because if we have to wait through the weekend, I'll lose my mind."

We drove to the courthouse in silence. The crowd was smaller today many reporters had left, assuming deliberations would take days. Only the dedicated remained.

Inside, we took our usual seats. Patricia was already there, looking composed as always.

How did she do it? How did she sit there so calmly while twelve people decided whether she'd spend the rest of her life in prison?

9 AM came and went. Then 10 AM. 11 AM.

At noon, the bailiff appeared. "The jury's requested lunch. They'll resume at 1 PM."

More waiting. More agony.

We ate lunch in the same conference room, the same stale cookies, the same terrible coffee. Nobody spoke much. We'd run out of things to say.

At 1:30 PM, we returned to the courtroom.

2 PM. 3 PM. 4 PM.

Each hour felt like a year.

At 4:45 PM, the bailiff rushed into the courtroom. "The jury has reached a verdict."

The words hung in the air.

A verdict. After less than two days of deliberation.

"Is that good or bad?" I whispered to Richard.

"I don't know. But we're about to find out."

Judge Martinez entered. Everyone stood. The formality of it felt surreal like we were going through motions that didn't matter because the decision was already made.

"Please be seated. Bring in the jury."

The twelve jurors filed in. I searched their faces, trying to read their expressions. Were they sympathetic? Stern? Uncertain?

I couldn't tell. They'd been trained not to show emotion.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" Judge Martinez asked.

The forewoman stood Juror 4, one of the mothers who'd cried during my testimony. "We have, Your Honor."

"Please hand the verdict form to the bailiff."

The bailiff took the paper, brought it to the judge. Judge Martinez read it silently, her face impassive.

Then she handed it back to the bailiff, who returned it to the forewoman.

"Will the defendant please rise?"

Patricia stood, Brennan beside her. She looked terrified now, the composure finally cracking.

"On the charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, how do you find?"

The courtroom was silent. I could hear my own heartbeat, loud in my ears.

The forewoman looked at Patricia. Then at the paper in her hand.

"We find the defendant"

Time slowed. The moment stretched into eternity.

Everything our safety, our future, Lily and Ethan's childhoods hung on the next word.

"guilty."

The word echoed through the courtroom.

Guilty.

Patricia made a sound something between a gasp and a sob. Brennan put his hand on her arm, steadying her.

"On the charge of attempted murder, how do you find?"

"We find the defendant guilty."

Adrian's hand found mine, gripping so tight it hurt.

Guilty. Both charges. Guilty.

"On the charge of obstruction of justice, how do you find?"

"We find the defendant guilty."

Three guilty verdicts. Patricia  had been convicted on all counts.

Judge Martinez banged her gavel. "The jury is thanked and dismissed. Sentencing will be scheduled for" She checked her calendar. "Four weeks from today. The defendant will remain in custody pending sentencing. Court is adjourned."

Patricia was crying now, her composure completely shattered. "No. No, this isn't I didn't"

The guards were already moving toward her, ready to take her back to jail.

As they led her past our table, Patricia looked at me. Her eyes were full of rage.

"This isn't over," she hissed. "You think you've won? You think"

"Mrs. Patricia, that's enough," one of the guards said, pulling her away.

But I'd heard her. Seen the hatred in her eyes. Even convicted, even facing life in prison, Patricia was still threatening me.

Still promising this wasn't over.

Outside the courtroom, reporters swarmed us. Cameras flashed. Questions were shouted.

"Mrs. Wolfe, how do you feel about the verdict?"

"Mr. Wolfe, do you think justice was served?"

"What do you want to say to Patricia?"

We pushed through without answering, Jimmy and the security team clearing a path to the car.

Inside, finally alone, I started shaking. Trembling so hard I couldn't stop.

"Emma?" Adrian's voice seemed far away. "Emma, breathe. You're okay. We won. She's going to prison."

"She said it's not over. Did you hear her? She said it's not over."

"She's angry. She's lashing out. But Emma, she's going to prison. She can't hurt us from prison."

"Can't she? She ordered my kidnapping from her house. What's to stop her from ordering something from a prison cell?"

"Because she'll be monitored. Her calls will be recorded. Her visitors will be screened. She won't have the freedom to coordinate anything."

I wanted to believe him. Wanted to feel the relief that should come with a guilty verdict.

But all I could see was Patricia's face. The hatred in her eyes. The promise that this wasn't over.

At home, Lily was waiting with Margaret.

"Did the judge decide?" she asked immediately.

"Yes, sweetheart. The jury said the bad lady has to go to jail for a very long time."

"Forever?"

"Probably forever, yes."

Lily's face lit up. "So we're safe now? She can't hurt us anymore?"

"That's right. She can't hurt us anymore."

Lily threw her arms around me. "I'm so glad, Mama. I'm so glad."

I held her, trying to feel the relief she felt. Trying to believe it was really over.

But Patricia's words kept echoing in my head.

This isn't over.

And despite the guilty verdict, despite Patricia going to prison, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was right.

That somehow, this was far from over.