Chapter 125 Karma
Chapter 125 Karma
Seven Months Later
\-Celeste-
Seven months.
That was how long it had taken for justice to catch up with everyone.
I sat quietly in the front row of the packed courtroom, Lucien's fingers intertwined with mine beneath the wooden bench.
On my other side sat Mom—Camille. Beside her was Evelyn, and beyond them were Daniel, David, Susan and Lilith, whose rounded belly made it impossible to ignore that despite everything our family had endured, life had continued.
The courtroom doors opened, and every conversation died.
Today was sentencing day.
Vanessa entered first in her bright orange uniform and handcuffs. Her hair had grown longer over the months, but the smile on her face hadn't changed.
She looked around the courtroom as though she had arrived to watch a play rather than hear her own sentence.
James followed behind her. Yes… I call him James now, he was too wicked to be considered my father. He looked decades older.
The arrogance that had once defined him had vanished, his shoulders were sagged, and he looked completely defeated.
The judge entered. “Be seated.”
The courtroom obeyed.
“In the matter of the State versus Vanessa Ashford,” he unfolded the thick file.
“The defendant stands convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, including the murders of Brad Miller, Patricia Ashford, and Reginald Blackwell.”
Yes, Vanessa had somehow managed to murder Reginald on the night Lucien and I were rescued from Jackson, who was now serving time.
“... kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment of Camille Ashford for a period exceeding twenty-three years; the kidnapping of Lilith Ashford shortly after birth; hostage taking; fraud and falsification of identity; witness intimidation; conspiracy to conceal multiple felony offenses; attempted murder; and criminal conspiracy.”
Vanessa examined her fingernails throughout the reading, as if the list of crimes being recited before her had nothing to do with her.
She smiled faintly when Reginald's name was mentioned, but otherwise showed no reaction.
Mom's fingers tightened around mine, Lilith quietly lowered her head, her face going pale at the mention of her kidnapping.
By the time the judge finished reading the charges, the courtroom had fallen completely silent.
He adjusted his glasses and looked directly at Vanessa.
“This court has also considered the unanimous findings of three independent psychiatric evaluations. While the defendant is competent to stand trial, she has been diagnosed with severe psychiatric instability requiring treatment within a secure forensic institution.”
He looked directly at Vanessa.
I held my breath.
“Accordingly, this court sentences Vanessa Ashford to multiple consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, to be served in a maximum-security forensic psychiatric facility.”
Then struck his gavel.
Karma. That was exactly what was served.
Loud silence filled the court, until it was broken by Vanessa’s laugh. It was quiet at first, then louder till it echoed through the courtroom.
“You think you've won?”
No one answered, then her gaze settled on Lilith. “You're still my baby, Lilith.”
“Lilith isn't your daughter,” Mom said firmly.
For a moment, her smile faltered. Then it returned, colder than before.
The judge struck his gavel again. “Enough. The defendant will remain silent.”
Vanessa leaned back in her seat, still watching Lilith.
Now it was James’s turn.
“In the matter of the State versus James Ashford,” I drew a slow breath as the courtroom shifted its attention.
“The defendant stands convicted of the murder of Edward Ashford, attempted murder of Susan Hale, attempted murder of Daniel Ashford, corporate corruption, embezzlement, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, and conspiracy to conceal the murder of Edward Ashford and related offenses.”
The judge closed the file and looked at James. “Mr. Ashford, before I impose your sentence, is there anything you wish to say?”
He remained silent for a moment, his face drawn and exhausted. “I have something to say.”
The judge gave a short nod.
James turned toward Vanessa, who smiled at him like she’d been waiting for this moment.
“You murdered my mother.”
She merely shrugged. “She became inconvenient.”
Color drained from his face.“You lied to me for all these years.”
“Because you were easy to lie to.”
His breathing grew heavier as he stared at her. “You stole my children.”
“No.” She tilted her head. “You lost them all by yourself.”
Something inside him finally broke.
“You ruined my life!”
“I merely exposed the man you already were.”
With a roar, James lunged toward her.
Three correctional officers moved immediately, catching him before he could reach her and forcing him back as the courtroom erupted in chaos.
“Order!” the judge shouted, striking his gavel until the courtroom slowly fell silent.
James was still struggling against the officers, his eyes fixed on Vanessa.
“You destroyed everything!”
She only laughed.
The judge waited until the officers had James under control before speaking again. “Mr. Ashford, you have been found guilty of the charges before this court. In light of the severity of your crimes, this court sentences you to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.”
He went still.
Once again, the judge struck his gavel. “Remove the defendants.”
The officers began leading them toward the courtroom doors.
Vanessa walked away still laughing, completely unrepentant. While James, however, stopped resisting.
His eyes moved across the courtroom until they found Mom. She didn't look away, but she didn't speak either. There was nothing left to say between them.
Slowly, his gaze shifted to all of us, he looked so ashamed. “I'm sorry.”
The words hung between us, but it was too late. Far too late.
I didn't answer. I simply watched as the officers led him through the courtroom doors.
And with that, Ashford’s darkest chapter came to an end.