Chapter 6 - The Sanctuary at the Lake
The road to Viktor’s cabin wound deep into the pine-covered hills of the Black Forest, far away from the city's cameras, country clubs, and gossip columns.
The cabin was a fortress built of thick cedar logs and reinforced granite, sitting overlooking a clear, cold alpine lake.
Smoke drifted from the stone chimney, and the smell of burning birch wood filled the crisp morning air as Viktor stopped the engine.
"There's only one access road," Viktor said, pointing toward the heavy steel gate he had locked behind them.
"The nearest neighbor is two miles away, and the perimeter is wired with independent motion sensors that don't rely on cloud servers."
Clara stepped out of the SUV, pulling her fleece coat tight against the mountain wind.
For the first time in two years, her lungs expanded fully without the sharp, stabbing reminder of Julian’s expectations.
Sophie immediately began unloading the digital equipment from the trunk, carrying two high-speed encrypted laptops into the cabin's main hall.
"Julian’s lawyers are already trying to freeze your personal bank accounts," Sophie said, setting her workstation up on the long rustic dining table.
"They filed an emergency petition claiming you took unauthorized marital funds when we moved the savings."
Clara sat down on the leather sofa near the fire, wincing slightly as the skin across her shoulder blades stretched.
"Let them try," Clara said, her voice surprisingly steady.
"I was the lead architect on our house, and I was the one who signed the mortgage origination documents before he consolidated the deeds."
Viktor walked in from the kitchen carrying a mug of hot honey tea and a bowl of fresh oatmeal for his daughter.
"You eat, you rest, and you let those wounds close," Viktor commanded gently, sitting on the hearth beside her.
"We have two weeks until the preliminary hearing, and the only job you have right now is keeping my grandson healthy."
Clara looked down at her belly as the baby delivered a strong, reassuring kick against her ribs.
"He's not afraid anymore," Clara whispered, resting her palm over the movement.
"When we were on that floor, he was beating so fast I thought his heart would stop. Now he's calm."
Sophie looked up from her glowing screen, a fierce smile breaking across her face.
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"That's because he knows his aunt is about to drain his father's offshore accounts into a frozen escrow," Sophie said.
"Nobody hurts my family and keeps their money."
