Chapter 262

Chapter 262

The news of Gerald and Amanda's arrests spread like wildfire throughout the city.

As the Rivera family's heir apparent for years, Gerald's exposure as an impostor sent shockwaves through the business world. Major news outlets competed to cover this sensational identity fraud case that had rocked the corporate elite.

A week later, the District Attorney's office formally filed charges against Gerald, including identity fraud, assault with intent to harm, attempted murder, commercial fraud, and ten other felony counts. Amanda, as his accomplice, faced multiple charges including identity fraud and evidence tampering.

In the courtroom, Gerald made one final desperate attempt to defend himself.

"Your Honor, I admit there were issues with my identity, but that doesn't constitute a crime!" Gerald sat in his orange prison uniform, his expression still defiant. "I worked for Rivera Corporation for so many years and created tremendous value. Are you going to erase all of that with one stroke?"

The prosecutor rose with a cold smile. "Defendant Gerald, you not only forged your identity to deceive the Rivera family's trust, but you also deliberately harmed Mrs. Victoria and attempted to murder Mr. Augustus. Are these not crimes?"

"I didn't murder anyone!" Gerald protested frantically. "That was just... just a moment of impulse!"

"A moment of impulse?" The prosecutor presented evidence. "According to Ms. Freya's testimony, you also sent people overseas to assassinate her. According to Mr. Ethan's statement, you instructed Amanda to threaten him into switching DNA samples. These were all premeditated criminal acts!"

Faced with mounting evidence, Gerald's defense appeared pathetically weak.

His mind raced desperately, searching for any angle that might save him. The comfortable life he'd built on lies was crumbling before his eyes, and the reality of spending his life in prison began to sink in. The power, the respect, the luxury—all of it had been built on borrowed time, and now that time had run out.

Freya took the stand as a key witness, providing detailed testimony about how she and Gerald had forged their identities years ago. Her testimony was clear and comprehensive, without any inconsistencies.

As she spoke, Freya felt a strange mixture of relief and bitterness. For years, she had lived in fear of Gerald's retribution, constantly looking over her shoulder. Now, finally telling the truth felt like lifting a crushing weight from her chest, even though it meant acknowledging her own role in the deception.

Ethan also stood in the witness box, painfully admitting to being coerced by Amanda into switching the DNA samples.

"I know I made an unforgivable mistake," Ethan said, his voice trembling with emotion. "But I'm willing to take responsibility and tell the complete truth."

His hands shook as he spoke, the weight of his betrayal heavy on his conscience. He couldn't bring himself to look toward where he knew Sophia might be sitting. The shame of what he'd done to her—to someone who had never wronged him—ate at him like acid.

When Victoria walked to the witness stand with her cane, the entire courtroom fell silent.

The eighty-something-year-old woman used a trembling but resolute voice to describe how Gerald had threatened her in her bedroom and pushed her down the stairs.

"He didn't just deceive our entire family—he tried to kill me," Victoria said, her eyes blazing with righteous anger. "Such a person must never be forgiven!"

Despite her advanced age and frail appearance, Victoria's voice carried the authority of someone who had survived decades of challenges. She had endured Gerald's deception, his violence, and his attempts on her life. Now, finally, she could speak her truth without fear.

Gerald looked at Victoria in the witness stand, a flash of hatred flickering in his eyes before being replaced by despair.

He knew that faced with so much witness testimony and physical evidence, he had no chance of overturning his fate. The elaborate web of lies he'd spun for decades was unraveling thread by thread, and there was nothing left to hold onto.

Amanda's situation was slightly better. Her lawyer managed to secure her status as an accomplice rather than a primary perpetrator, but even so, severe legal consequences awaited her.

"I... I was just being used by Gerald!" Amanda sobbed in court. "I didn't know things would develop to this extent!"

But the prosecutor mercilessly pointed out: "Defendant Amanda, you actively threatened Mr. Ethan to switch DNA samples, actively impersonated Ms. Sophia's identity. These were all your deliberate actions, not passive manipulation!"

Amanda's tears felt hollow even to herself. Deep down, she knew the prosecutor was right. Her jealousy of Sophia, her desperate desire for wealth and status, her willingness to destroy innocent lives—these hadn't been Gerald's doing. They had come from the darkness in her own heart.

After three days of hearings, the judge announced a recess to deliberate on the verdict.

A week later, the judgment was delivered.

Gerald was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for identity fraud, assault with intent to harm, attempted murder, and multiple other charges.

Amanda received a ten-year prison sentence for identity fraud, evidence tampering, and related charges.

Ethan, due to his cooperation with the investigation and voluntary confession, was recognized as a cooperating witness and sentenced to three years in prison with suspended execution.

When the judge read the verdict, Gerald completely broke down.

"No! This isn't fair!" He struggled wildly against his restraints. "I devoted so many years to the Rivera family—why should I suffer such punishment!"

The bailiffs quickly subdued him and forcibly removed him from the courtroom.

His screams echoed through the halls as reality crashed down upon him. Life imprisonment. No parole. He would die behind bars, forgotten and despised. The golden life he'd stolen was gone forever, replaced by concrete walls and endless regret.

Amanda collapsed in the defendant's chair, her face ashen. Ten years in prison meant her prime years would be spent behind bars.

"No... no... I don't want to go to prison..." Amanda mumbled to herself, her mental state teetering on the edge of complete breakdown.

The weight of her actions finally hit her. Ten years. By the time she got out, she would be middle-aged, with no family, no fortune, no future. The life of luxury she'd schemed for had become a prison sentence.

Outside the courthouse, Augustus faced reporters' interviews: "Justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied. This outcome brings closure to all who were harmed."

Sophia stood beside Augustus, her expression calm: "We believe in the fairness of the law and are grateful to everyone who worked tirelessly on this case."

Benjamin held Sophia's hand tightly: "This nightmare is finally over."

Several months later, Gerald spent the darkest period of his life in prison.

Having lost his status as the Rivera family heir and all his wealth and position, he had become a complete failure. The other inmates showed him no respect—to them, he was just another con artist who'd gotten caught.

During the quiet nights, he would think about those years living in the Rivera mansion, about Augustus's trust in him, about Victoria's maternal care. The warmth of family dinners, the pride of closing business deals, the respect shown to him by employees and peers—all of it had been real, even if his identity wasn't.

But all of this was forever lost because of his greed and malice.

The irony wasn't lost on him. He had possessed everything he'd ever wanted—a loving family, wealth, respect, a bright future. But his paranoia and greed had driven him to destroy it all. Now, lying on a thin prison mattress, he realized he had thrown away paradise for the illusion of control.

Amanda's situation was even worse. In the women's correctional facility, she often sat alone in corners, staring blankly at the ceiling with vacant eyes.

Her former life of luxury, her jealousy and hatred toward Sophia—it all seemed so ridiculous and childish now. She had traded away her freedom for a fantasy of revenge, and the price had been everything.

The other inmates avoided her after learning about her crimes. Even among criminals, there was little sympathy for someone who had tried to steal another person's identity and family.

Though Ethan received a suspended sentence, he knew he would carry the guilt toward Sophia for the rest of his life.

He found an ordinary job far from the business world, trying to find redemption through a simple life. Every time he remembered Sophia's cold gaze, he knew that some mistakes could never be undone.

He had betrayed someone who had never wronged him, all for money and fear. The weight of that betrayal would follow him forever, a constant reminder of his moral failure.

All those who had harmed Sophia and the Rivera family had received their just punishment.

And true justice had finally prevailed.