Chapter 38 - The Deliberation
Judge Hawthorne delivered her final instructions to the jury, reminding them of the legal standards for fraud, extortion, and the invalidation of contracts under duress. With a sharp crack of her gavel, the jury was dismissed to deliberate, and the agonizing waiting game began.
Maya, Ryan, Clara, and Marcus retreated to a small, sterile consultation room down the hall from the courtroom. The adrenaline that had sustained them through the trial began to fade, replaced by a tense, nervous exhaustion. Marcus paced the length of the small room, reviewing his notes, while Clara sat quietly in a plastic chair, staring blankly at a lukewarm cup of coffee.
Ryan sat next to Maya, his arm wrapped securely around her shoulders. She leaned her head against him, closing her eyes. "How long do you think it will take?" Maya whispered.
"In civil cases of this magnitude, it could take days," Marcus answered, checking his watch. "They have a massive amount of financial evidence to review. But given how badly Sterling bungled the defense and Eleanor's outburst... I wouldn't be surprised if they move quickly. They know exactly who the villain is."
Four hours later, the stark fluorescent lights of the consultation room were beginning to give Maya a headache. She was just pulling out her phone to check in with the nanny regarding Oliver when a sharp knock echoed on the door.
May you like
The bailiff poked his head into the room, his expression entirely neutral. "Counselor," he said, looking directly at Marcus. "The jury has reached a verdict. The judge is calling you back to the courtroom."
Maya’s heart slammed against her ribs. Four hours. It was incredibly fast. Clara looked up, her eyes wide with a mixture of absolute terror and desperate hope. Ryan squeezed Maya’s hand tightly, standing up and pulling her to her feet. The waiting was over. It was time to hear the truth spoken into the official record.
