Chapter 10 - New Beginnings
Six months later, the dust had finally settled.
I stood on the sidewalk in front of what used to be the Sterling flagship hotel. The massive gold letters had been torn down from the facade. In their place, a sleek, modern sign was being erected.
The Maria.
My mother walked up beside me, carrying two cups of coffee from her bakery down the street. She was wearing a beautiful, custom-tailored suit, radiating absolute power and grace.
"It looks beautiful, Mom," I said, taking a cup of coffee.
"It does," she smiled, looking up at the building her holding company was transforming into luxury apartments. "And the best part? It’s entirely ours."
My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Vanguard Equity. Vance was offering me a massive promotion to Head of Global Compliance, a position that came with a corner office and a seven-figure salary.
"You know," my mother said softly, linking her arm through mine. "Sometimes I think about that wedding toast. About how Victoria said miracles happen."
May you like
I laughed, the sound bright and genuinely happy.
"She was right, Mom," I said, looking out at the city that lay open before us. "Miracles do happen. But sometimes, you have to burn down the castle to build a better one."
