Chapter 8 - The TrialThe trial became national news.
The evidence was devastating.
False invoices.
Offshore transfers.
Company credit cards.
Messages between Evan and Barbara.
And finally, the recordings.
Evan had discussed removing me from the company.
Barbara had discussed humiliating me.
Kelsey had accepted stolen money.
The prosecution connected every transaction.
Every lie.
Every decision.
The jury deliberated for six hours.
Then returned.
Guilty.
On multiple counts.
Evan sat motionless.
Barbara began crying.
Kelsey received a reduced sentence because she cooperated.
Afterward, reporters surrounded me.
“Did you expect this outcome?”
“Yes.”
“Are you satisfied?”
I thought about the eleven years.
The insults.
The loneliness.
The betrayal.
“No.”
They looked surprised.
I continued.
“I'm relieved.”
“What is the difference?”
I smiled.
“Satisfaction is about revenge.”
May you like
“Relief is about freedom.”
Then I walked away.
