Chapter 19 - THE VERDICT BEFORE THE VERDICT
Matthew's criminal trial began eleven months after the night in the penthouse.
The financial charges were complex.
The assault charge was not.
Photographs.
Medical records.
The cane.
The call.
The apartment evidence.
His own words.
His defense team tried to separate Matthew the husband from Matthew the executive.
Prosecutors argued that control connected both.
I testified on the fourth day.
The courtroom was full.
Reporters watched every expression.
Matthew sat beside his attorneys.
I walked past him.
I did not look at him until I took the stand.
The prosecutor asked about NexusCore first.
Then the forged documents.
Then Lauren.
Finally, she asked about 11:17 p.m.
I described the first strike.
Then the second.
The broken vase.
The orchids.
The counting.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
I did not dramatize it.
The truth required no decoration.
When I reached twenty, the courtroom was silent.
The defense attorney stood.
He was respectful but relentless.
“Mrs. Sterling, you were angry with your husband that evening.”
“Yes.”
“You had discovered his affair.”
“Yes.”
“You confronted him.”
“Yes.”
“You threw a vase.”
“No.”
“You raised your voice.”
“Probably.”
“So emotions were high.”
“Yes.”
“Isn't it possible your recollection of individual moments became distorted?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“You had injuries, medication, shock—”
“The hospital medication came after the injuries.”
He paused.
“Your marriage was collapsing.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted Mr. Hayes removed from NexusCore.”
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“I wanted the theft stopped.”
“His removal followed.”
“Because the board voted.”
“You benefited financially.”
“I already owned the shares.”
He changed direction.
“Your father had significant interest in NexusCore's future.”
“Yes.”
“He mobilized lawyers within hours.”
“Yes.”
“Security teams.”
“Yes.”
“Financial experts.”
“Yes.”
“Powerful resources.”
“Yes.”
He stepped closer.
“So when you called Richard Sterling, you knew he could destroy Matthew Hayes.”
I thought about it.
Then answered carefully.
“No.”
“What did you think would happen?”
“I thought my father could get me off the floor.”
The attorney stopped.
No one moved.
I continued.
“When I called him, I wasn't thinking about NexusCore.”
“I wasn't thinking about money.”
“I wasn't thinking about revenge.”
“I was trying to stay awake long enough for someone to find me.”
The attorney returned to his table.
He had no more questions.
Matthew looked down.
Three weeks later, the jury convicted him on the assault-related charges.
The financial case produced additional convictions later that month.
Victor was convicted separately.
Cascade Meridian dissolved under court supervision.
Project Lighthouse was dismantled.
Matthew's empire did fall apart.
But not because my father destroyed it.
Matthew destroyed it himself.
One forged signature at a time.
One stolen dollar at a time.
May you like
One lie at a time.
And finally, one strike at a time.
