Chapter 13 — The Trial
Vanessa and Adrian were tried separately.
Adrian faced charges involving corporate espionage, extortion, unlawful surveillance, and threats against Ethan.
Vanessa faced fraud, conspiracy, drugging, destruction of evidence, and participation in the espionage scheme.
Lucas Grant testified in exchange for a reduced sentence.
He admitted entering Nathan’s hotel room, scattering clothing, and helping Vanessa stage the scene.
Medical experts confirmed Nathan had been given a powerful sedative.
The prosecutor displayed the silicone pregnancy prosthetic before the jury.
Two silver pins remained attached to the side.
The same type Ethan had found.
Vanessa’s defense argued that Adrian controlled her through family pressure.
The recordings proved he gave many instructions.
But they also proved Vanessa added her own ideas.
She chose to manipulate Claire.
She chose to continue the pregnancy lie.
She chose to use stage blood during the dinner.
When Ethan testified, the courtroom became silent.
The prosecutor asked what first made him suspicious.
“She never changed,” Ethan said.
“People do not always show pregnancy in the same way,” the defense attorney replied.
“I know.”
“Then why did you believe she was lying?”
“Because every photograph was identical. The shape wasn’t growing. It was being worn.”
The defense attorney held up the pin.
“And this made you certain?”
“No.”
“What made you certain?”
“When the pin fell, she was more afraid of someone seeing her stomach than she was about the baby she said was in danger.”
Claire watched from the front row.
Ethan did not sound dramatic.
He sounded observant.
That made his testimony powerful.
Margaret also testified.
She admitted she ignored evidence because she feared the old partnership agreement would damage her husband’s legacy.
Her testimony helped prosecutors establish how Vanessa gained access to the safe.
After four weeks, both verdicts were delivered.
Adrian was found guilty on all major charges.
Vanessa was also convicted, though the court considered her cooperation and past emotional trauma during sentencing.
Neither received sympathy from Nathan.
But Claire understood justice did not require hatred.
When Vanessa was led from the courtroom, she looked toward Nathan.
He did not meet her eyes.
Instead, he placed one hand on Ethan’s shoulder and the other beside Claire’s.
Vanessa finally understood the truth.
She had never been competing with Claire for Nathan.
She had been trying to defeat a family.
And the attempt had only taught them how to stand together.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded Ethan.
“How does it feel to be the person who exposed the fake pregnancy?”
Ethan looked at the cameras.
“I wasn’t trying to expose someone.”
“What were you trying to do?”
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“Get my family to look at what was right in front of them.”
Then he walked away.
