Chapter 14 - Guilty
Attempted first-degree murder of Elena.
Guilty.
Conspiracy to commit murder with Serena.
Guilty.
First-degree assault? Injury from fall maybe guilty lesser aggravated assault. Let's keep "serious assault count." Guilty.
Insurance fraud conspiracy.
Guilty.
Identity-related fraud.
Guilty.
One count alleging separate attempt to kill unborn child?
The prosecution had charged a fetal-related enhancement/child endangerment? Colorado fetal homicide laws complex. We should avoid exact. There was an additional count alleging specific intent to cause Lucas’s death. The jury found not guilty because state had not separately proved Victor formed distinct intent toward fetus beyond intent to kill me, though evidence showed he expected both deaths. That nuance is plausible.
So:
A separate charge requiring proof that he specifically intended an independent crime against unborn child.
Not guilty.
I did not feel cheated.
The main truth stood.
He tried kill me knowing I was pregnant.
Then insurance count associated $50m pending.
Guilty.
Victor closed eyes.
No collapse.
No shouting.
Then sentencing months later after federal coordination.
Before that, Martin and Serena.
Serena testified.
Her own sentencing.
Judge considered:
She knowingly participated in murder plan.
Impersonated me.
Lured.
Blocked path.
Did not call despite seeing movement.
Cooperated substantially.
No prior record.
She spoke:
“I turned Elena into obstacle because I wanted Victor’s life.”
Then:
“I knew a baby could die.”
No excuses.
She received fourteen years aggregate with eligibility/credits governed by law, plus restitution responsibilities for fraud.
Not six months because she testified.
Serious.
She cried.
I submitted no sentencing request beyond facts.
Then Martin.
Federal court.
He pled.
Admitted:
$250k corrupt payment.
Expected $5m.
Override.
Obstruction.
He denied murder knowledge and government did not allege beyond evidence.
Sentence:
Eight years federal custody, forfeiture, restitution, industry ban.
Cross Atlantic clawed back compensation under policies.
His brother-in-law’s Blue Ridge settled and paid penalties.
Regulators fined Cross Atlantic $18m for control failures across high-value underwriting and related-party governance? Could be realistic but large. Let's choose $12.5m civil regulatory settlement and required compliance monitor for three years.
Company survived.
Adrian remained chairman but announced succession plan separate from scandal.
No collapse.
Then Victor sentencing.
State and federal prosecutors coordinated. Federal insurance sentence partly concurrent? To avoid double excessive. Judge in state considered attempted murder most.
Prosecution sought 36 years.
Defense sought 18.
I spoke.
“I do not ask court to sentence him because he cheated on me or lied about money. I ask you to sentence the fact that he used my trust, my identity, my pregnancy, a storm, and two other people to build a plan where his financial future depended on my death.”
Then:
“My son survived because we landed on a ledge Victor did not choose.”
Victor looked down.
Then he spoke.
“I am sorry Elena was hurt.”
Still passive.
Then:
“I love Lucas.”
I stared.
Then:
“I never wanted this.”
Judge asked:
“Never wanted what? The outcome of your own plan?”
Victor said nothing.
Sentence:
Thirty two years on state convictions, with parole eligibility according statute, plus federal sentence for insurance fraud coordinated partly concurrently and financial restitution. Effective incarceration roughly thirty five years? That might be heavy but plausible. Let's set overall effective 30 years after concurrent structuring. But attempted premeditated murder can be very long. Let's choose 34-year effective term.
Not life.
He would be an old man if released.
The judge said:
“Your victim’s survival does not reduce your intent. It changes the result, not the choice.”
That line.
Then divorce.
Finalized after conviction.
I received my share of marital estate after debts and receiver.
Not much.
About $620,000 net plus personal belongings.
Victor’s business assets mostly creditors/restitution.
My separate trust distributed at thirty:
Approx $3.1m.
Independent of Adrian.
I changed surname back to Marlowe.
Lucas?
Family court approved name change to Lucas Marlowe after notice and best-interest hearing. Victor objected from prison.
Judge considered identity, primary household, safety, father connection.
Granted hyphen? Could be Lucas Hale-Marlowe. But I wanted clear. Maybe court approved Lucas Marlowe with Hale as middle? Let's say Lucas Daniel Marlowe, changing surname after lengthy process. Victor remains legal father.
Parental rights?
I received sole custody. Victor’s contact suspended indefinitely, future petition only with court and professional review. He remained obligated support/restitution where applicable. No automatic termination.
Then Diane, Victor’s mother.
I allowed supervised grandparent visits eventually after she acknowledged.
She never defended again.
Lucas called her Grandma Diane.
Family can remain without Victor.
Then Adrian.
He attended Lucas’s first birthday.
No huge party.
He brought wooden car.
I glared.
“What?”
“Not red.”
We laughed.
Then he asked:
“Can I be Grandpa now?”
Lucas babbled.
I said:
“Ask him.”
Adrian crouched.
“Lucas, may I apply for grandpa?”
Lucas threw cracker at him.
May you like
“Strong maybe.”
That was how title began.
