Chapter 18 - A Family Dinner Beneath Armed Guard and Starry Skies
For the first time in three years, the dining table in the grand Westchester estate was set for three people.
Candlelight flickered across fine crystal and silver silverware, casting warm, dancing shadows against the wood-paneled walls.
Lily chattered excitedly about her new bedroom while feeding pieces of roasted chicken to a stuffed rabbit named Mr. Buttons.
Sarah sat across from Adrian, sharing a quiet, knowing smile that bridged the painful chasm of their three-year separation.
“Pass the potatoes, please, Daddy,” Lily requested brightly, using the word for the very first time with total comfort.
Adrian froze for a fraction of a second, the simple word striking deeper into his soul than any bullet ever could.
He smiled, handing her the silver bowl with a warmth in his slate eyes that none of his enemies had ever witnessed.
Outside the tall stained-glass windows, armed guards patrolled the moonlit perimeter, ensuring their peace remained undisturbed.
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Inside, the home finally echoed with the sweet, unbreakable sound of laughter, love, and a family reunited.
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