Chapter 20 - The Future
I drove back to the city with the windows rolled down, listening to the radio.
My life was perfectly ordered, incredibly successful, and completely my own.
I had a small circle of fiercely loyal friends who loved me for exactly who I was.
I had built an empire that was rooted in honesty, hard work, and unyielding integrity.
I no longer flinched when someone raised their voice or moved too quickly.
The ghost of the slap on Christmas Eve had finally faded into absolute nothingness.
I pulled into the private underground garage of my luxury apartment building.
I took the private elevator up to the penthouse, greeted by the stunning view of Manhattan.
I poured myself a glass of vintage wine and stepped out onto the massive balcony.
The city lights twinkled below me, an ocean of endless, beautiful possibilities.
I raised my glass to the cold, dark night, offering a silent toast to the past.
I had burned down the toxic forest of my family tree and planted a magnificent garden in the ashes.
Harper Sterling was dead and buried, completely forgotten by the world.
Claire Devereux was alive, thriving, and absolutely unstoppable.
The game was completely over, and I was the undisputed champion.
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I took a slow sip of my wine and smiled at the brilliant future ahead of me.
This was my final victory.
