Seven months later, Halueth safely gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
At the same time, Merlara's verdict came down, just as Ethlando had anticipated. She bore the full brunt of all the charges, including murder, instigation of drugging and gang rape, and causing a car accident. Under multiple convictions, she was sentenced to seventeen years and six months in prison.
Castien, along with the man who assaulted Halueth that night, also received their deserved punishments.
Ylyndar, who had narrowly escaped consequences, became the sole pillar of the Zetino family. It was said that he moved among several powerful figures in the business world, attempting to climb the social ladder, but was constantly being manipulated and could never escape his fate of being toyed with.
