Chapter 22
Three weeks later, the morning sun shone brightly over the manicured lawns of the fully restored Sterling Estate in Newport.
Julian Sterling and his corrupt business associates were officially locked away in a federal prison awaiting trial.
The stolen trust fund money had been completely recovered by Swiss banking authorities and returned to the family estate.
My mother was fully recovered, her health restored, living comfortably in the grand guest house overlooking the sea.
Maya was happily playing on the lawn with baby Leo, building sandcastles with brand new toys under Vance’s watch.
I sat on the wooden porch steps, wearing a clean blue sweater, writing in a brand new leather journal.
William walked out onto the porch, carrying two cups of hot chocolate, handing one down to me.
“What are you writing about, Lily?” William asked, sitting down on the step beside me.
“About eighty-seven minutes of crying on an airplane,” I smiled, taking a sip of the warm sweet drink.
“And how one runaway girl from premium economy managed to change everything.”
William laughed softly—a bright, warm sound that echoed across the ocean cliffs.
“You didn’t just change everything, Lily,” William said, looking at me with absolute, fatherly pride.
May you like
“You brought my family back from the dead.”
“And as long as I’m alive, you and Maya will never have to run from anything ever again.”
