Chapter 10 - A New Dawn
Three weeks later, the morning sun poured through the sparkling kitchen windows, warming the hardwood floor where Chloe was happily eating her cereal out of her favorite pink bowl. There were no strange children sitting at our table, no cold mother-in-law barking orders from the head of the room, and no lingering secrets hiding in the shadows.
My phone rested on the marble counter next to a steaming mug of coffee. The screen lit up with a notification from Marcus Vance’s office: Draft settlement agreement finalized. Full sole custody granted. Primary asset forfeiture signed by judge.
I picked up the phone, swiped away the notification, and looked down at my daughter, who looked up at me with a bright, joyful smile, her mouth smeared with milk and cereal flakes.
"More blueberries, Mommy?" Chloe asked, holding up her spoon.
May you like
I smiled, feeling a profound lightness in my chest that I hadn't felt in years. I walked over, scooped a handful of fresh berries into her bowl, and kissed the top of her dark curls.
"As many as you want, baby," I whispered. "We're home."
