Chapter 9 - The Reckoning
The law finally caught up with them.
The forensic audit I initiated revealed millions of dollars in tax evasion and corporate fraud orchestrated by Arthur over the last decade. He was indicted by a federal grand jury. Facing twenty years in prison, his former arrogance vanished. He begged for a plea deal, crying in the courtroom like a broken man.
Julian didn't fare much better. The viral video of him striking me was picked up by the district attorney. Because I filed a formal police report the night of the gala, Julian was charged with domestic assault.
I stood in the back of the courtroom the day he was sentenced. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine. There was no defiance left in him. Just hollow, desperate regret.
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The judge banged the gavel. Julian was sentenced to eighteen months in a state correctional facility.
I turned and walked out of the courtroom before they even put the handcuffs on him. I didn't need to see it. It was already over.
