Chapter 18: The True Inheritance
Chapter 18: The True Inheritance
The arrest of Eleanor Montgomery sent a shockwave through the media, but this time, the narrative was firmly in the hands of Clara and Ethan.
The police escorted a screaming, handcuffed Eleanor out of the estate. The flashing red and blue lights of the cruisers illuminated the courtyard—the same courtyard where, just weeks prior, they had celebrated the foundation's reopening.
Clara didn't watch Eleanor leave. Her only concern was the little boy hiding upstairs. She ran to the library, finding Leo huddled beneath the desk, covering his ears, crying uncontrollably.
"It's okay, sweetheart. It's over," Clara whispered, crawling under the desk and pulling the trembling boy into her arms. "The mean lady is gone. She is never, ever going to hurt you again."
Leo clung to her, burying his face in her shoulder. "Am I going back to the cold place?" he sobbed.
May you like
Ethan knelt beside them, placing a strong, reassuring hand on the boy's back. "No, Leo," Ethan said firmly, his voice thick with emotion. "You're never going back there. You're staying right here, with us. You're safe now."
In the darkest of storms, Clara and Ethan had not only protected their family's legacy, but they had found a new, precious life to bring into the light.
