Chapter 396

Chapter 396:

“It is an explanation, Your Honor, not a justification. I accept the jury’s verdict, but I reject the narrative that has been presented. I am not a monster. I am simply a woman who tried to claim what should have been hers.”

Camille felt Alexander’s hand on her knee, steadying her. The audacity of Rose’s statement, the complete lack of remorse, should have angered her.

Instead, she felt a wave of something like pity. Rose truly believed her own lies. All these years, all these crimes, and she still saw herself as the victim.

“Are you finished, Ms. Lewis?” the judge asked, her tone making it clear she was not impressed.

“Just one more thing.” For the first time, Rose turned to face Camille directly. “I regret nothing.”

The judge’s gavel struck sharply. “Ms. Lewis, you have shown no remorse for actions that have cost multiple lives. Your statement only confirms what the evidence has shown—that you represent a continued danger to society, and particularly to your sister.”

Rose turned back to face the bench, her expression unchanged.

“It is the sentence of this court that you be confined to the maximum-security women’s facility at Bedford Hills for a term of not less than fifty years without the possibility of parole.”

The gavel struck again. “Court is adjourned.”

As the bailiffs approached to lead Rose away, she turned once more toward Camille. The hatred in her eyes burned as bright as ever, undimmed by the verdict or the sentence. But something else lurked there too—a flicker of confusion, as if Rose couldn’t understand why Camille wasn’t gloating, wasn’t celebrating her downfall.

Then Rose was gone, led through the side door to begin her half-century of confinement. The spectators rose, the buzz of conversation filling the suddenly smaller-seeming room. Reporters rushed to file their updates.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked softly.

Camille nodded, surprised to find it was true. “I am.”

Outside, they faced the inevitable press line. Questions flew at them from all directions.

“Camille! How do you feel about the sentence?”

“Ms. Kane! Will you be pursuing civil damages?”

“Mr. Pierce! Any comment on Rose Lewis’s statement?”

Alexander held up a hand, bringing a moment of quiet. “Ms. Kane has a brief statement.”

Camille stepped forward, feeling the weight of dozens of cameras on her. She had prepared remarks—carefully written and memorized—about justice, closure, and moving forward.

Instead, she spoke from the emptiness she had felt yesterday, which today seemed less like emptiness and more like space, room for something new to grow.

“Justice was served today,” she said simply. “Not revenge, but justice. That’s the difference that matters.”

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