Chapter 8 - The Trial of Eleanor Price
Three months later, the State of New York v. Eleanor Price went to trial.
The courthouse was packed with reporters, local citizens, and guests who had attended the fateful baby shower. I sat in the front row of the gallery, holding Daniel's hand, while my mother sat at the defense table in a stark gray prison uniform.
The prosecution’s case was swift and devastating.
ADA Sarah Hayes called Lena to the stand first, who played the high-definition venue footage for the jury. The room gasped as the video showed Eleanor deliberately reaching behind the table, wrenching the heavy iron rod free, and swinging it directly into my stomach while shouting, You don't deserve this!
Next took the stand the lead trauma surgeon, who testified that the blow caused a life-threatening placental abruption that nearly bled both me and my baby to death within minutes.
Then came the turn of the forensic accountant, who systematically dismantled Eleanor’s financial life over three hours of slide presentations. Chart after chart illustrated the millions of dollars stolen, the forged signatures, and the deliberate financial exploitation of my estate.
Finally, ADA Hayes called me to the stand.
I walked slowly up to the witness box, unassisted, wearing a dark navy dress.
"Mrs. Sterling," ADA Hayes asked, "why did you keep the forensic file encrypted for three months before the attack?"
I looked directly at the twelve members of the jury.
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"Because I kept hoping she would stop," I answered, my voice steady and clear. "I kept hoping that if I gave her another chance, if I paid off one more debt, she would finally act like a mother. But when she threatened my unborn child, I realized a parasite doesn't stop taking until the host is dead. I encrypted those files to protect my child’s future. And when she struck me, she proved every single word in those documents was true."
The defense attorney declined to cross-examine me.
