Chapter 6
Diane’s trial began eight months later.
Vanessa testified first.
She was nervous, but she told the truth.
She described the safe.
The drill.
Diane ordering her to find the Blackwood records.
Then she described the assault.
“Mom told me to keep Natalie distracted,” Vanessa said. “I heard Natalie scream.”
Diane stared at her daughter with open hatred.
Vanessa began crying.
“I thought Mom loved us,” she whispered. “But she only loved control.”
The prosecution played the security footage.
The courtroom watched Diane slap me.
They watched her drag me down by my hair.
They watched her stand over me while Vanessa worked on the safe.
Ethan sat beside me during the video.
His hand rested near mine, but he did not touch me until I reached for him.
That mattered.
Diane was convicted of assault, attempted burglary, conspiracy, and financial crimes related to the Blackwood operation.
Vanessa received a reduced sentence because she cooperated.
Before she was taken away, she turned toward me.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
I believed she was sorry.
But I also knew I needed distance.
“I hope you get help,” I told her.
Diane was sentenced to prison.
As officers led her out of court, she looked at Ethan.
He stood.
For a moment, everyone seemed to hold their breath.
“Mom,” he said, “I loved you. But I will not protect you from what you did.”
May you like
Diane’s face collapsed.
Then she was gone.
