Chapter 14 - THE RED DRESS IN COURT
Emily wore a simple navy suit when she entered the courtroom.
Victoria stared at her.
Perhaps she expected the red housekeeping dress and yellow gloves.
Perhaps she needed Emily to remain frozen in the role she had assigned her.
The prosecutor began with the Rolex.
Emily described being searched, accused, and expelled.
“Did Mr. Ashford allow you to explain?” the prosecutor asked.
“No.”
“Did Ms. Sloan?”
“She told me not to make the humiliation worse.”
The jury watched the security footage.
Victoria entered Emily’s room.
She planted the watch.
Then she told the boys they were leaving.
The defense attorney stood.
“Ms. Carter, you became emotionally attached to the Ashford children, correct?”
“I care about them.”
“You sometimes behaved more like a parent than an employee.”
“When no parent was available, I behaved like the responsible adult present.”
“Did you want Ms. Sloan removed from the home?”
“I wanted the children safe.”
The attorney suggested Emily created suspicion because she resented wealthy people after losing her scholarship.
Emily looked at Victoria.
“I did not know she stole my scholarship until the day she framed me.”
“Mr. Ashford restored your funding after the accusation.”
“The foundation returned money that had always belonged to my education.”
“Are you benefiting financially from this case?”
“I lost my job, housing, and reputation in one afternoon. Demanding repair is not the same as creating the damage.”
The courtroom became silent.
Ethan testified through a child-sensitive procedure.
He described seeing Victoria plant the watch.
Liam described hiding beneath the desk.
Marcus explained the backup cameras.
The family attorney presented forged school and trust documents.
Then prosecutors played Caroline’s videos.
Victoria’s expression changed only once.
It happened when Caroline said:
Someone who loves children does not need them silent.
The state presented the false prescriptions, airline tickets, and European company records.
Wynn testified against Victoria in exchange for a reduced sentence.
He admitted she designed the plan.
She wanted the wedding completed, the boys removed, the trust activated, and Emily discredited before Ethan’s independent interview.
Victoria chose to testify.
She claimed everything was done to protect Richard from manipulative employees and emotionally troubled children.
The prosecutor asked why she planted the Rolex.
Victoria answered, “Because Emily was becoming dangerous.”
“Dangerous to whom?”
Victoria looked toward the jury.
“To the family structure.”
The prosecutor displayed a photograph of the three boys running barefoot after Emily.
“They appeared to believe Emily was the person protecting the family.”
May you like
Victoria had no answer.
👉 The jury had seen how Victoria framed Emily—but one final bank record would show exactly what she planned to purchase with the boys’ stolen millions.
