Chapter 14
An hour later, Ethan stood in the lobby of the Child Protective Services facility in midtown Manhattan.
The heavy glass doors opened, and Ms. Davis walked out holding Lily's small hand.
The moment the little girl saw her father standing in the lobby, she broke free and sprinted across the room.
"Daddy!" Lily cried out, throwing her arms around Ethan's neck as he dropped down to lift her off the floor.
Ethan buried his face in her soft shoulder, holding her so tightly he could feel her rapid, innocent heartbeat against his chest.
"I told you I was coming back for you, sweetheart," Ethan whispered, tears of relief falling onto his suit jacket.
Lily pulled back slightly, looking into her father's eyes with a mixture of wonder and soft, childlike joy.
"Are we going home now, Daddy?" she asked softly, wiping a tear from his cheek with her thumb.
"Yes, Lily," Ethan smiled, holding her close as Marcus walked up to them holding two cups of hot chocolate.
"We are going home, and nobody is ever going to separate us again."
They walked out of the building together into the bright afternoon sunlight breaking through the Manhattan storm clouds.
The legal nightmare that had threatened to tear their family apart was finally over, but Ethan knew work remained.
He needed to rebuild their lives, clear his late wife's memory, and ensure the foundation left for Lily was secure.
As they sat in the back of Marcus's car, Lily nestled against his side, fast asleep from exhaustion.
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Ethan looked out the window at the Manhattan skyline, feeling a profound sense of quiet peace settle over his heart.
He had fought the darkest corners of high society and won, protecting the only thing in the world that mattered.
