Chapter 10 - The Front Gate
A year had passed since the day I came home to that terrible black ribbon.
The Dallas heat was finally breaking, giving way to a cool autumn breeze.
I stood in the side courtyard, holding a mug of cinnamon coffee.
The metal dog crate was long gone, melted down at a scrapyard months ago.
In its place was a beautiful bed of blooming yellow roses.
Grandma was sitting at the patio table, wearing a bright floral blouse, her hair perfectly styled.
She was laughing as Rosa told a story about the local market.
She had gained her weight back, and her eyes sparkled with the fierce spirit she had always possessed.
Marcus was by the front gate, chatting with the gardener.
I had officially retired from the military.
I took over my father's company, clearing out the corrupt board members Vanessa had installed and rebuilding his legacy from the ground up.
The house finally felt like a home again.
There were no staged ribbons, no hidden keys, and no monsters lurking in the guest rooms.
I took a sip of my coffee and looked up at the clear blue sky.
I had fought my war on home soil, and I had won.
May you like
We were safe.
Follow-up question: How do you feel about the pacing of this conclusion—would you like to see more details about Claire's new life running the business?
