Chapter 17 - THE SUNRISE OVER THE ESTATE
Morning sunlight flooded through the tall French windows of the mansion, warming the polished wooden floors.
Lily and her two brothers bounded down the grand staircase in their matching sky-blue silk pajamas, laughing loudly.
They rushed into the living room, hurling themselves onto the sofa to hug both of their parents at once.
"Mommy! Are the bad people really gone forever?" eight-year-old Lily asked, looking up with wide, hopeful eyes.
"They're gone forever, sweetie... we're safe now," Sarah promised, kissing the top of Lily's blonde head.
Mark stood up, walking over to the kitchen to prepare a massive American breakfast for the entire family.
The smell of sizzling bacon, freshly brewed coffee, and golden pancakes soon filled the spacious country kitchen.
For the first time in half a year, the mansion felt like a real home instead of a gilded prison.
The laughter of the children echoed off the walls, washing away the dark memories of the past six months.
May you like
Mark looked out the kitchen window at the manicured lawns stretching out toward the private estate gates.
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