Chapter 13 — The Trial of Serena Montigue
Chapter 13 — The Trial of Serena Montigue
The courtroom was full before sunrise.
By seven in the morning, every seat in the public gallery had been taken.
By eight, reporters crowded the hallway.
By nine, cameras were waiting outside the courthouse.
And at nine-thirty, Serena Montigue entered through the side entrance in handcuffs.
She no longer wore designer coats.
No diamonds.
No perfect smile.
No carefully chosen expression.
She wore a plain dark suit.
Her wrists were restrained.
Her face was pale.
But she still walked like a woman who believed she could control the room.
Then she saw Lily.
And stopped.
Lily stood beside the prosecutor.
She wasn't hiding anymore.
Serena stared at her.
Lily stared back.
For six months, Serena had called her a nobody.
A cheap nanny.
A liar.
A woman nobody would believe.
Now Lily was standing in the center of the courtroom.
And everyone was waiting to hear her speak.
The judge entered.
Everyone stood.
“Be seated.”
Serena sat beside her attorney.
Her lawyer leaned toward her.
“Don't look at the witness.”
Serena ignored him.
She kept looking at Lily.
The prosecutor noticed.
So did the judge.
But Lily didn't move.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Victor sat behind her.
He didn't touch her.
He knew she had to do this herself.
This was her testimony.
Her voice.
Her truth.
Nobody could speak for her.
The prosecutor stood.
“Your Honor, the state intends to present evidence concerning the physical abuse of a fourteen-month-old child, conspiracy to abduct that child, obstruction of an investigation, witness intimidation, financial fraud, and conspiracy to obtain control over assets belonging to the minor.”
The defense attorney immediately objected.
“Your Honor, the financial allegations are unrelated to the assault charges.”
The prosecutor turned.
“They are directly connected to motive.”
The judge considered it.
“Overruled.”
Serena's expression tightened.
The prosecutor continued.
“The evidence will demonstrate that the defendant did not act impulsively.”
She looked toward the jury.
“This was a planned operation.”
A murmur moved through the courtroom.
“Ethan Blackwood was not merely a child in this case.”
She paused.
“He was the key to an inheritance structure worth billions.”
Serena looked down.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
The first witness was Dr. Harper.
She explained Ethan's injuries.
The fracture.
The bruising.
The pattern of repeated trauma.
Then the prosecutor displayed photographs.
Lily looked away.
She had seen them before.
She didn't need to see them again.
The prosecutor asked:
“Doctor, were these injuries consistent with accidental contact?”
“No.”
“Could a fall from a crib have caused them?”
“Not in the pattern documented.”
“Did you observe evidence of previous injuries?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Several months.”
The courtroom went silent.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did you report your concerns?”
“Yes.”
“To whom?”
“Evelyn Blackwood.”
“And what happened?”
“I was instructed to revise my report.”
Serena's attorney stood.
“Objection.”
“Sustained.”
The prosecutor changed direction.
“Doctor, did you revise the report?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it would have been medically dishonest.”
Then came Maria.
The housekeeper.
She walked slowly to the witness stand.
Serena watched her.
Maria looked nervous.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did you witness the defendant handling Ethan roughly?”
“Yes.”
“How many times?”
“More than once.”
“Did you report it?”
“Yes.”
“To whom?”
“Mrs. Blackwood.”
“And what happened?”
Maria looked toward Serena.
“She told me to forget it.”
The defense attorney stood.
“Objection. Hearsay.”
The judge ruled carefully.
“Overruled for the limited purpose of establishing notice.”
Maria continued.
“I was afraid.”
“Why?”
“Because she said my grandchildren could lose their jobs.”
Serena shook her head.
“That isn't true.”
The judge immediately warned:
“Ms. Montigue, you will remain silent.”
Serena lowered her eyes.
Then Thomas testified.
He presented the security logs.
The prosecutor displayed the system access records.
The timestamp appeared on the screen.
11:48 p.m.
The exact minute Ethan disappeared.
“Whose credentials were used?”
“Serena Montigue's.”
The defense attorney stood.
“Those credentials could have been stolen.”
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.”
“Therefore, you cannot say she personally accessed the system.”
“Not from the credentials alone.”
The attorney smiled.
“No further questions.”
The prosecutor stood.
“One question.”
She turned toward Thomas.
“Did the defendant previously have access to the security system?”
“Yes.”
“Did she know the camera locations?”
“Yes.”
“Did she know the guards' schedules?”
“Yes.”
“Did she have contact with the security contractor?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone else have all four?”
Thomas paused.
“No.”
The prosecutor sat down.
The attorney's smile disappeared.
Then came the video.
The courtroom lights dimmed.
The footage appeared.
Ethan crying.
Serena grabbing him.
Lily running toward him.
Serena striking Lily.
The sound of Lily's scream.
Then Serena's voice.
Touch him again and I'll make you disappear.
Nobody spoke.
The footage ended.
The lights came back on.
Serena's face was wet with tears.
Her attorney whispered:
“Don't react.”
She whispered back:
“She made me.”
The attorney stared at her.
“What?”
Serena looked at Lily.
“She made me do it.”
The attorney closed his eyes.
He knew they were losing.
Then the prosecutor called Lily.
The courtroom became completely silent.
Lily stood.
Walked to the witness box.
Raised her hand.
Swore to tell the truth.
Then sat.
The prosecutor approached.
“Please state your name.”
“Lily Carter.”
“And your occupation?”
“I was a nanny.”
“Whose nanny?”
“Ethan Blackwood's.”
“How long?”
“Six months.”
“What did you think of Ethan?”
Lily smiled faintly.
“He was a happy baby.”
“Did you love him?”
“Yes.”
The prosecutor paused.
“Why?”
“Because he trusted me.”
Lily looked toward the jury.
“And I promised myself I would never let anyone hurt him.”
Her voice trembled.
“I failed that day.”
Victor lowered his eyes.
Lily continued.
“But I didn't fail because I didn't try.”
The prosecutor asked her to describe the night.
Lily told everything.
Ethan crying.
Serena grabbing him.
The baby's arm.
The kick.
The threat.
The fear.
Every detail.
She did not exaggerate.
She did not cry for sympathy.
She simply told the truth.
Then came the question that everyone had been waiting for.
“Why didn't you leave?”
Lily looked at the jury.
“Because Ethan was still on the floor.”
“What happened after?”
“I crawled toward him.”
“And Serena?”
“She told me nobody would believe me.”
“Did you believe her?”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew the truth didn't need her permission to exist.”
Silence.
Even the judge looked at her.
The prosecutor stepped back.
“No further questions.”
The defense attorney rose.
He walked slowly toward Lily.
“Ms. Carter.”
“Yes?”
“You were emotionally attached to Ethan.”
“Yes.”
“Would you agree that you were jealous of Ms. Montigue?”
“No.”
“You disliked her.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted her out of the house.”
“Yes.”
“So you had a motive to accuse her.”
Lily looked at him.
“I had a motive to protect Ethan.”
The lawyer smiled.
“You slapped her.”
“Yes.”
“That's assault.”
“I was trying to stop her.”
“You struck her.”
“Yes.”
“Because you were angry.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Lily looked directly at Serena.
“Because she was hurting a baby.”
The courtroom fell silent.
The lawyer tried again.
“You expect this jury to believe you?”
Lily answered:
“No.”
The lawyer frowned.
“What?”
“I don't need them to believe me.”
She looked toward the jury.
“I need them to look at the evidence.”
The defense attorney stepped back.
No further questions.
Then the prosecutor introduced the financial records.
Bank transfers.
Shell companies.
Trust documents.
Payments to private investigators.
Payments to security contractors.
Payments connected to the attempted kidnapping.
The defense argued that Serena had not personally authorized the transactions.
Then the prosecution played the recording.
Serena's voice:
Make sure she can't speak.
Then another voice.
Daniel.
What about Victor?
Serena:
Victor will sign when he understands what happens to the child.
The courtroom erupted.
Serena stood.
“That isn't what I meant!”
The judge slammed the gavel.
“Order!”
Serena sat.
Her attorney looked furious.
“You told me there were no recordings.”
“I didn't know.”
“Sit down.”
Then came the final witness.
Victor.
He entered the courtroom wearing a dark suit.
He didn't look at Serena.
He looked at Lily.
Then Ethan.
His son was not in the courtroom.
Victor had refused to expose him to the proceedings.
The prosecutor asked:
“Mr. Blackwood, why did you trust the defendant?”
Victor took a breath.
“Because I was wrong about her.”
“Did she have access to your family?”
“Yes.”
“Your finances?”
“Yes.”
“Your home?”
“Yes.”
“Your child?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She was supposed to become part of the family.”
The prosecutor paused.
“Did you intend to marry her?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you change your mind?”
Victor looked toward Serena.
“Because I discovered who she really was.”
“What did she want?”
“My son.”
“Why?”
Victor answered:
“Because of his inheritance.”
The prosecutor asked:
“How valuable is that inheritance?”
Victor looked at the jury.
“Enough to make powerful people kill for it.”
The defense attorney stood.
“Mr. Blackwood, isn't it true that your family has been involved in criminal activity?”
Victor answered:
“Yes.”
“Isn't it true that your father was involved?”
“Yes.”
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“Your board?”
“Yes.”
“Then why should this jury trust anything you say?”
Victor looked at him.
“They shouldn't.”
The lawyer paused.
Victor continued.
“They should trust the documents.”
He pointed toward the evidence table.
“I spent years believing money could protect my family.”
He looked at Lily.
“I was wrong.”
Then he looked at Serena.
“She believed money could control people.”
Victor's voice hardened.
“She was wrong too.”
The trial lasted nine days.
On the tenth morning, the jury returned.
Serena stood.
The judge asked:
“Has the jury reached a verdict?”
The foreperson stood.
“Yes.”
The courtroom became silent.
On the charges related to child abuse—
Guilty.
On conspiracy to commit kidnapping—
Guilty.
On witness intimidation—
Guilty.
On obstruction—
Guilty.
On financial conspiracy—
Guilty.
Serena closed her eyes.
For the first time, she looked completely defeated.
The judge thanked the jury.
Then turned toward Serena.
“Ms. Montigue, you will be remanded into custody pending sentencing.”
Serena suddenly looked toward Lily.
“You think you won?”
Lily stared at her.
Serena smiled faintly.
“You don't know the truth.”
Lily said nothing.
Serena was escorted away.
As she passed Victor, she stopped.
“You should ask your mother what happened to Ethan's real father.”
Victor froze.
Serena smiled.
Then she disappeared through the courtroom doors.
Outside, reporters surrounded Lily.
“Lily!”
“Did you expect the verdict?”
“How do you feel?”
“Will you return to the Blackwood estate?”
Lily stopped.
She looked at the cameras.
“No.”
The reporters quieted.
“I don't want the mansion.”
She took a breath.
“I don't want the money.”
She looked toward Victor.
“I only wanted Ethan to be safe.”
A reporter asked:
“Do you forgive Serena?”
Lily paused.
“No.”
Then she added:
“But I don't want to become like her.”
That evening, Victor found Lily sitting outside the hospital nursery.
Ethan was sleeping inside.
Victor sat beside her.
“You were incredible.”
Lily shook her head.
“I was terrified.”
“I know.”
“I thought I would freeze.”
“You didn't.”
She smiled.
“I had a good reason not to.”
Victor looked through the glass at Ethan.
“He's lucky.”
Lily looked at him.
“He's lucky because you finally chose him.”
Victor nodded.
“I should have done it sooner.”
“You did it eventually.”
They sat quietly.
Then Victor's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
Lily noticed.
“What happened?”
Victor lowered the phone.
“Serena's attorney received a message.”
“From whom?”
Victor stared through the nursery glass.
“Anna.”
Lily's heart skipped.
“What did she say?”
Victor's voice was quiet.
“She says Serena was only one piece of the plan.”
Lily frowned.
“What plan?”
Victor looked at Ethan.
“The Black Crown isn't finished.”
He paused.
“They're coming for him again.”
Lily stood.
“Then they'll have to come through us.”
Victor looked at her.
For the first time, he smiled.
“Yes.”
Behind the glass, Ethan opened his eyes.
He looked toward them.
And smiled.
The trial had ended.
Serena had been defeated.
May you like
But the war for Ethan had not.
It had only entered its final stage.
