The courtroom was packed. Every seat filled, cameras everywhere despite the judge's restrictions. Blake Sterling's sentencing had become a media spectacle, the trial of the decade.Blake stood at the defendant's table in his orange jumpsuit, hands cuffed in front of him. He scanned the crowd, found Emma in her wheelchair in the front row. She was still pale, still weak, but she'd insisted on being there.Their eyes met. She nodded once. Fight.Judge Margaret Hartwell entered. Everyone stood. The bailiff called the court to order."We're here for the sentencing of Blake Sterling, convicted of second-degree murder and kidnapping." Judge Hartwell's voice was stern, unyielding. "Mr. Brennan, does the prosecution wish to make a statement?"Assistant District Attorney Brennan stood. "Yes, your honor. The state recommends the maximum sentence—twenty-five years to life. Mr. Sterling took a helpless, paralyzed man and left him to die in the wilderness. This was not a crime of passion. It was c

Blake Sterling adjusted to prison life slowly. Federal medium security wasn't the hellhole some prisons were, but it wasn't comfortable. Six hundred inmates, concrete walls, the constant noise of men living in cages.He had a cellmate—Marcus Washington, serving twelve years for securities fraud. Marcus kept to himself, which Blake appreciated. They shared the small space with minimal conflict.The other inmates knew who Blake was. The Billionaire Killer, the tabloids called him. Some respected him for what he'd done to Vincent. Others saw him as a rich man who thought he was above the law.Blake kept his head down. Did his time. Waited for parole.Two years. He could survive two years.Outside the prison walls, Emma tried to hold their life together. Grace was in therapy for her trauma. James had nightmares every night. Sarah clung to Emma constantly, afraid her mother would disappear too.Emma herself was barely holding on. The gunshot wounds had healed, but she was weak. Exhausted.

Emma sat in her living room, staring at nothing. Grace was at school. James was at therapy. Sarah napped upstairs. For the first time in weeks, Emma was alone with her thoughts.And her thoughts kept returning to Cassidy.Dr. Monroe had become more than a therapist. She'd become a friend. A confidant. The only person who truly understood what Emma was going through.Cassidy visited almost daily now. Sometimes for scheduled therapy sessions with the children. Sometimes just to check on Emma. To bring dinner. To offer a listening ear.And lately, Emma had noticed things she tried to ignore.The way Cassidy's hand lingered on Emma's shoulder. The way she looked at Emma with such intense focus. The way she found excuses to touch Emma's arm, her back, her hand.Emma told herself it was just friendly support. Cassidy was a touchy person. Some people were like that.But then there was yesterday. They'd been in the kitchen, Cassidy helping prepare dinner. She'd reached past Emma for a bowl, an

Blake hung up with Grace and immediately called his lawyer. "Marcus, my daughter just told me Cassidy is abusing my children. We need CPS involved. Now."Within hours, Child Protective Services received a formal complaint. A social worker named Patricia Hayes was assigned to investigate allegations of abuse at the Sterling residence.Patricia arrived at the estate the next afternoon. Emma answered the door, Cassidy beside her, both looking concerned and cooperative."Mrs. Sterling, I'm here to interview your children regarding allegations of abuse. Is now a good time?"Emma glanced at Cassidy, who nodded supportively. "Of course. Though I should tell you, these allegations are coming from my ex-husband who's currently in prison. He's been trying to sabotage my relationship with Dr. Monroe.""I understand. I still need to speak with the children."Patricia interviewed Grace first. The six-year-old was nervous, fidgeting with her hands."Grace, I need you to tell me the truth. Has anyon

Blake was processed back into the prison system with new charges. Attempted escape. Bribery of correctional officers. Conspiracy to commit multiple felonies. Each charge carried its own sentence.The FBI prosecutor was merciless. "Mr. Sterling attempted to flee federal custody using criminal organizations. He paid fifty million dollars to violent criminals. He planned to disappear and evade justice. The court must send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated."The judge agreed. Fifteen years added to Blake's sentence. On top of the five he was already serving.Twenty years total. Seventeen years minimum before parole eligibility.Blake was forty years old. He'd be fifty-seven before he could even apply for parole. His children would be adults. His life would be over.They put him in solitary confinement. Twenty-three hours a day in a cell barely big enough to lie down. One hour in a cage for exercise. No contact with other inmates. No phone calls. No visitors except lawyers