CHAPTER 90
Bill got up early and went straight into town. He needed to be at his office, because he wanted to fill out all the paperwork so that he could try Julia Thatcher and send her to prison in the next few days. That girl was worse than a rattlesnake full of venom, she tried to kill Elizabeth, her beautiful daughter, and ended up hitting her own aunt, and at no time did she seem worried or conscience-stricken; she was a terrible young woman who now had blood on her hands.
Julia was a vengeful young woman, incapable of loving Elizabeth as she would have.
"How could I attempt her life? How could she harm her own sister?" Bill now knew that they didn't have that sisterly bond, but they had been brought up together for all those years, so he must have had some love for her. Julia's evil hands were stopped at the last moment, as if a heavenly force was protecting Elizabeth's innocence. Divine intervention not only preserved her life, but also cast a light of hope into everyone's heart, demonstrating that love and justice can triumph over hatred and revenge.
Bill, a renowned judge, took on the task of ensuring that justice was done in Julia Thatcher's case. His impartiality and integrity were known throughout canada. News of the attempted murder of Elizabeth Thorton spread quickly and created a local stir in Hope Valle, and it was realizing this that Bill ran to Rosemary and asked for a headline. He knew that Rose had a gift for words and that headline would set a new trap for Charles Kensigton and Willian Thatcher. It would trap those two evildoers and they would be punished for their crimes.
Bill filled in everything, called the jury commission that worked with him on trials and scheduled Julia's trial in three days, just in time for her to receive her lawyer.
Rose, meanwhile, was running urgent headlines in Hope, Valle, Calgary and Hamilton, where her newspaper friends worked in partnership with her, when she had bombshell news...
"Scandal in the elite:
Shipping magnate heiress Julia Thatcher arrested for attempted murder of sister Elizabeth Thorton! Trial shocks high society".
The newspaper with Julia's headline sold out in all three cities in less than an hour, prompting several other cities in canada and even in New York to publish the bombshell headline in their newspapers.
Reading about the assassination attempt on the Thatcher family, one sister against the other, ended up shaking society in many ways, as the news spread like wildfire, causing shock and disbelief among members of high society. The Thatcher family would be subjected to intense speculation and public scrutiny.
Grace and William were in their mansion when they saw the newspaper with the headline about their daughter. Julia had been missing from home for many days, but they had never imagined that their little princess was as far away and suffering as she was now, and because of Elizabeth.
Willian started making a lot of calls, he needed to send big lawyers to that stupid town to take care of Julia.
Grace, for her part, sat on the sofa and analyzed everything, she had to think about what to say and who to say it to, she was going to use her influence before it was too late, she knew that the social circles and elite events would be dominated by discussions about the escandoThe empathy and support for the supposed victim Elizabeth, would be evident, while Julia's reputation would quickly crumble. The subsequent trial would become a highly anticipated event, with society eager for details about the case. Grace knew that all this would hurt her daughter Viola and her fiancé Sir Leonel, a high-society English nobleman. In addition, the scandal would provoke reflections throughout society about privilege, family ethics and the role of wealth in the pursuit of justice. They couldn't leave Julia helpless now, she was a child who couldn't be responsible for her actions, but Grace knew that Elizabeth was to blame, and if she proved to society that she was shameless, naughty and immoral, she could save Julia;
Elizabeth resisted believing that her own sister, Julia, could be capable of such a terrible act. Deep in her heart, she held out hope that it was all just a terrible misunderstanding, that the sisterly relationship they shared was strong enough to overcome any adversity. But the newspaper headlines, Julia's arrest and the arrival of the trial cast a shadow of doubt over that hope.
It was with a heavy heart that Elizabeth decided to go to the police station. She longed to look into the eyes of Julia, her sister, in search of answers to the nightmare that had become her life. The police station was full of reporters and onlookers, but Elizabeth was destined to face her sister, hoping that somehow she could find an explanation for what had happened.
Julia, however, was unrecognizable. Her eyes, once full of joy and complicity, were now filled with anger and bitterness. She shouted crossword puzzles, accusing Elizabeth of being to blame for all the misfortunes that had occurred. Elizabeth's tears fell silently as she tried to understand how the sister she knew had turned into someone so unrecognizable.
-Julia, please, Elizabeth begged in an embarrassed voice: I don't understand. How could it come to this? We're sisters. We share our lives, our joys and our secrets. Please tell me that this is a mistake, that you didn't do it.
Julia, however, continued to shout, showing no sign of regret.
-You've always been a bastard, Elizabeth! Everything bad that's happened is your fault! I'll never take the blame for something I didn't do. You're to blame for Bile Hamilton's death, you bitch, you fake. You should have died, you never were and never will be my sister or anyone for our family.
What had once been a strong and unbreakable bond between two sisters now seemed to be in ruins, like a ship that had lost its anchor in a violent storm. The love and trust that were supposed to unite Elizabeth and Julia were now adrift in an ocean of mistrust and bitterness, and Elizabeth had just realized that this had never existed between them or the so-called family, unfortunately they had never loved her, but she hoped, perhaps, for an opportunity to be rescued and restored, but uncertainty hung in the air, like the fog that enveloped an uncertain future.
Elizabeth felt lost at that moment, unable to understand how her relationship with Julia had come to this. She had witnessed happy moments and shared experiences with her sister throughout their lives, at least for Elizabeth they were some good moments. Now, Julia's accusation, her lack of remorse and the bitterness emanating from her made excuses impossible to accept.
-Julia, we were brought up together, we lived adventures, shared secrets and dreams. How could we have reached this point of hostility? Don't you believe in our sisterhood, in our history? Elizabeth said with tears in her eyes.
Julia, however, remained unyielding. Her fury was a gale that seemed unshakeable.
-You don't understand, Elizabeth. You've always been the bastard, the one who could play the punching bag, as Mom used to say. A lot of the time they were busy punishing you, and that time could have been spent with me and Viola, the real daughters of this family, not some disgusting bastard. You're such a good-for-nothing, always giving us trouble, you should have just married Charles, he's too much sand for your britches, after all, you're nothing and nobody. It made me hate you.
Elizabeth's sadness turned to despair. The gap between them seemed insurmountable. The conversation at the police station didn't bring the resolution Elizabeth had hoped for, it only deepened the pain and mystery surrounding their relationship.
Bill was a good judge, but he was also a firm and loving adoptive father, and he could no longer bear to see his daughter Elizabeth tormented by Julia's cruel words at the police station. He entered the room with determination, placing his hand gently on Elizabeth's shoulder, taking her away from that toxic environment. His gaze conveyed a mixture of concern and unconditional love.
Elizabeth, her eyes filled with tears, allowed herself to be guided by her father into that long, painful scene. Bill took her to a quieter place, away from the prying eyes and crowd, where he could open up to her with words of comfort.
-My dear Elizabeth," he began, no matter what happens, I want you to know what a wonderful daughter you are. Your character, your compassion and your strength always fill me with pride. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could change the love I have for you.
He held Elizabeth's face gently, looking into her eyes and continued:
-Remember that you also have your real father, Wynn, who loves you deeply. He is a precious part of your life, and his love is unwavering. You are not alone on this journey, my dear. Our family will always be here to support you.
Bill's words were like a warm embrace, a safe haven in the midst of the emotional storm Elizabeth was facing. She knew that, even in the face of the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead, she had the unconditional love and support of her father and her real family. Together, they would face whatever lay ahead, with the hope that love and justice would prevail in the end;
As the trial approached, every second dragged on like an eternity for Elizabeth. The anguish that consumed her was palpable, and the weight of the situation affected her deeply. She felt torn between her love for Julia and the need for justice to be done.
The nights were the hardest for Elizabeth, when the silence of the darkness only amplified her thoughts and worries. She wondered how Julia had gotten to this point, how the bond of years of living together had deteriorated so drastically. Julia's future, a future that now seemed somewhat bleak, tormented her.
Elizabeth knew that, although it would be painful, Julia would have to face the consequences of her actions. Justice had to be done, and she hoped that this could be the first step towards redemption and healing for both of them. The young woman was aware that there was no easy solution to this situation, but she held out hope that, in the end, justice would prevail and that the wounds could somehow begin to heal.
THE DAY OF THE TRIAL ...
The judge known for his reputation for impartiality and uprightness entered the courtroom with determination. His serious, unwavering gaze conveyed the firmness with which he was conducting the trial. Throughout his career, he had built up a confidence in applying the law rigorously and fairly, regardless of the situation.
The trial was scheduled, and expectations were high. The courtroom was packed with people eager to see the law prevail. The divine intervention that had protected Elizabeth further increased Bill's sense of responsibility to ensure that Julia was held accountable for her actions.
On the day of the trial, the atmosphere was tense. The witnesses recounted the events accurately, exposing Julia's cruel actions.
The jurors, lawyers and defendant watched the judge's every move carefully. His confidence to be brave was not linked to emotional emotions, but rather to his uncompromising dedication to justice. He responded attentively to the parties' arguments, taking meticulous notes and analyzing the evidence with a refined eye.
The defense lawyers tried to argue in Julia's favor, but the evidence was overwhelming. Bill's gaze appeared steadfast, his decision would be guided by truth and justice.
As the sentence convicted, the judge's determination to ensure that the law was upheld was evident. He did not hesitate to make difficult decisions, always based on fairness and the search for truth. His commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judicial system was admirable.
After a careful analysis of the evidence and testimony, Bill delivered his verdict.
In the end, when he handed down his sentence, the judge once again declared his concession to being brave, not because he was cruel, but because he was uncompromising in the application of justice. His decision reflected his relentless pursuit of a fair legal system, where laws were upheld regardless of who stood before him. His reputation as a guardian of justice would remain intact.
Julia would be held accountable for her crimes, but she would also have the opportunity to redeem herself and change her path. Justice prevailed, showing that even in the face of darkness, the light of truth can illuminate the path to redemption and reconciliation.
Final sentence: 5 years, 7 months and 21 days in prison, closed regime.
Transfer to Hamilton General Prison.