Three days later, the county courthouse was packed with reporters, news cameras, and family lawyers.
Evelyn Sterling sat at the defense table wearing a orange prison jumpsuit, her hands handcuffed to her waist belt, her hair unstyled and messy.
Judge Davis: Evelyn Sterling, you are charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault, grand larceny, and corporate forgery.
Evelyn's Lawyer: Your Honor, my client maintains her innocence. She was acting in self-defense during a domestic dispute!
District Attorney: Your Honor, we present State's Exhibit A: the high-definition security camera footage from the Sterling estate hallway.
The prosecutor pressed a button on his laptop, and the large television screens in the courtroom came to life.
The video clearly showed Evelyn grabbing Clara by her white robe, screaming in her face, and violently shoving her full-force into the large glass mirror.
Gasp echoed through the courtroom crowd as the glass shattered and Clara fell heavily to the floor.
Judge Davis: That is quite enough. The video evidence is absolute and indisputable.
Evelyn: Your Honor, please! She provoked me! She was trying to steal my late husband's money!
Julian: My wife never asked for a dime of your stolen money, Evelyn!
Julian stood up from the front gallery row, holding Clara's bandaged hand firmly in his own.
Julian: You stole four million dollars from my father's legacy, and then you tried to murder his unborn granddaughter!
Judge Davis: Order in the court! Mr. Sterling, please remain seated.
Julian: Apologies, Your Honor. But that woman deserves no mercy.
Judge Davis: Given the severity of the violent attack, the clear video evidence, and the flight risk posed by the defendant's offshore accounts, bail is hereby denied.
Evelyn slammed her hands against the defense table, her face twisting in pure, unhinged rage.
Evelyn: You ruined my life, Clara! You worthless little nobody!
Clara: I didn't ruin your life, Evelyn. Your own greed did.
Judge Davis: Bailiff, remove the defendant and place her in holding until the formal trial date!
Two heavy-set bailiffs grabbed Evelyn by her arms, dragging her out through the side doors as she screamed and kicked violently.
Evelyn: Julian! You're making a mistake! She's using you! She's using you!
The heavy oak doors slammed shut behind her, plunging the courtroom into a peaceful, quiet calm.
Julian turned to Clara, wrapping his arm around her waist as she leaned against his side.
Julian: It's over, Clara. She's never going to bother us again.
Clara: We can finally go home and build a real family.
Julian: A real family, built on love and trust. Exactly how it should be.