My Husband The Judge Sentenced Me To Prison Chapter 03
By the time I arrived at the Hilton ballroom, the gala was in full swing.
Crystal chandeliers glittered over a sea of influential people.
I spotted my father immediately—a retired senior partner from a prestigious firm. He was proudly introducing Valerie to the State Attorney General.
“This is my daughter, Valerie. CEO of TechVision. A truly brilliant young woman.”
Valerie humbly clinked her glass. “You’re too kind, sir.”
My father beamed with a pride he never showed for me, as if she were his only daughter.
Marcus stood beside them, his eyes filled with adoration.
The moment I walked up to them, my father’s smile vanished.
He roughly pulled me behind a champagne tower, hissing in a low voice filled with disgust, “What are you doing here? Haven’t you embarrassed me enough?”
“Marcus told me to come.”
“Your sister is networking tonight. Don’t stand around here looking like a stray dog,” my father’s voice was laced with poison. “If I were you, I’d have the decency to disappear. Do you have any idea what a liability your criminal record has been for Marcus’s career?”
“I am his legal wife.”
My father let out a cold laugh. “A convicted fraudster talking about ‘legal’? If it weren’t for the structure of the family trust, do you really think Marcus wouldn’t have divorced you by now?”
His eyes were cold, like he was looking at a bad investment. “If you had any conscience, you’d know that Marcus needs a partner like Valerie, not a dead weight like you.”
Curious glances were being thrown our way.
Whispers buzzed around me like flies. “Isn’t that Mrs. Caldwell…?” “I heard she just got out…” “She was a Yale grad, you know. Such a shame…”
Just then, Valerie let out a small cry and swayed theatrically.
Marcus immediately abandoned the senator he was talking to and rushed to her side, wrapping an arm around her. “What is it? Low blood sugar?”
Valerie leaned against his shoulder, but her eyes shot a look of triumph at me from across the room. “I’m fine… Maybe just a little too much champagne.”
Leo hurried over too. “Do you need some water, Aunt Valerie?”
Valerie took Marcus’s hand. “The mayor is over there. Will you introduce me?”
Marcus gently guided her by the waist. “Of course. Watch your step.”
They walked toward the VIP section, looking like the perfect couple.
No one cared about me, hiding in the corner.
My father shot me one last icy glare. “Do you see your place now?”
I took a deep breath and walked quickly toward the terrace.
I had to escape this suffocating hypocrisy.
The wind on the terrace was cold.
I heard the click of high heels behind me.
Valerie walked over, carrying her expensive red-soled Louboutins, her bare feet on the cold tiles.
She stood in front of me, crossing her arms, no longer hiding the malice in her eyes.
“How does it feel, Sarah? To be abandoned by the entire world?”
I stared at her, my face blank.
“You were always ‘Miss Perfect,'” she spat. “Mom and Dad’s pride and joy, the star of your law school class… everyone loved you. And me? I was just the dumb little sister. But look at me now. I have everything.”
She took a step closer. “Those five years in prison? That was my gift to you. Did you like it?”
“I just casually mentioned to Leo, ‘it would be so great if your mom could just authorize the transfer.’ I never thought the little idiot would actually do it just to impress me. He stole your token.” She laughed. “Watching the FBI take you away, watching you break down in court and plead guilty to protect your son… I laughed all night.”
“You could have demanded a forensic analysis, traced the IP address. But your righteous judge of a husband was too scared it would taint his political ambitions. And your father convinced you to take the plea for ‘the sake of the family’s reputation,’ right?” she sneered. “You were too perfect, Sarah. So perfect it made me want to destroy you.”
Five years.
My career, my reputation, my dignity—
All destroyed by this woman.
I raised my hand to slap her.
But she just smiled a twisted, strange smile.
She suddenly threw the red wine in her hand all over her white suit, then slammed her forehead against the rough brick wall.
“No! Sarah, please don’t hit me! You can have it back!”
The impact made a sickening thud.
The next second, Leo rushed out, shoving me hard. “How dare you hit Valerie!”
I stumbled backward, the sharp corner of the iron railing digging into my back.
A searing pain shot through me.
I could feel warm liquid trickling down my spine.
Marcus was right behind him, cradling Valerie, whose forehead was now bleeding. “What happened? Somebody call an ambulance!”
Valerie sobbed like a frightened deer. “Sarah wanted the pin back… It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have worn it…”
Marcus saw the blood spreading on my dress, and for a split second, his eyes flickered with doubt.
But when he looked back at the blood on Valerie’s face, that doubt turned to pure rage.
He looked up at me, his eyes now the eyes of a judge condemning a criminal. “Sarah, it’s just a goddamn pin. I said it was hers, so it’s hers. A woman who threw away her future for greed has no right to talk about honor.”
His voice was as cold as a death sentence. “If anything happens to Valerie, I will never forgive you.”
Leo glared at me. “I don’t have a vicious mother like you! You’re just jealous of Aunt Valerie!”
Ignoring my pale face, he scooped Valerie up into his arms.
Valerie rested her head on his shoulder and mouthed a single, silent word at me:
Loser.
Marcus turned to leave. “I’ll get the car.”
Their footsteps faded away.
I slid down the railing, collapsing onto the ground, the blood from my back staining my gown.
But I didn’t cry.
I watched them go, pulled out my phone, and hit send.
“Diane. It’s time.”
Thank God.
Just one more day—
And I would make them all pay.