Chapter 17 - Julian’s Last Performance
Julian chose to testify.
His attorneys advised against it.
He insisted.
At first, he was convincing.
He spoke about loving Maya since birth.
He described attending her school events, reading bedtime stories, and caring for her when she was sick.
Some of it was true.
That made his lies more dangerous.
“I made mistakes,” he said. “But Claire turned my daughter against me for money.”
The prosecutor approached.
“You knew Maya was not your biological child?”
“Yes.”
“You arranged her conception using your uncle’s embryo?”
“I wanted Claire to have a child.”
“You forged her consent?”
“I signed what she authorized.”
The prosecutor displayed the clinic video.
Julian’s own voice said Claire did not need to know.
His expression tightened.
He claimed the recording was taken out of context.
Then came the audio from Harrison’s final night.
Julian said his father had misunderstood him.
The prosecutor played the kidnapping video.
Julian said he only took Maya because he feared Claire would flee.
Finally, the prosecutor displayed his message to Claire.
After Mommy dies, nobody can stop us.
Julian leaned toward the microphone.
“That was emotional language.”
The prosecutor stared at him.
“You asked a doctor for a drug that could simulate an accidental overdose.”
“I was asking for medical information.”
“You trapped Claire in a burning archive.”
“The fire was Dr. Cole’s idea.”
“You struck him before igniting the hallway.”
Julian’s calm began to crack.
Everyone else was responsible.
Everyone else had betrayed him.
Everyone else had misunderstood.
Then the prosecutor asked the simplest question.
“Did you ever love Maya more than the money attached to her name?”
Julian looked toward the jury.
He should have said yes.
Instead, anger took control.
“That money belonged to my family before Claire ever walked into our lives.”
The courtroom went silent.
The prosecutor stepped back.
“No further questions.”
Julian realized what he had admitted.
His attorney lowered his head.
The jury deliberated for less than seven hours.
They returned late that evening.
Claire held Maya’s rabbit in her lap while the verdicts were read.
Guilty of kidnapping.
Guilty of medical fraud.
Guilty of attempted murder.
Guilty of elder abuse.
Guilty of conspiracy.
Guilty of obstruction.
Julian’s knees weakened.
May you like
Then the clerk reached the count involving Rebecca’s crash.
👉 Julian had been convicted of nearly everything, but the oldest crime would determine whether Rebecca received justice after eleven stolen years.
