Chapter 5 - Reclaiming the Crown
Six months later.
The Morgan Private Estate in Bel-Air, California, was a paradise of sunlit terraces, marble fountains, and endless blue skies.
Sarah sat on a plush velvet lounger beside an infinity pool that seemed to drop straight into the Pacific Ocean. She wore an elegant floral silk dress, her dark hair shining in the warm afternoon sun.
Six-month-old Hope giggled happily in a shaded playpen nearby, reaching her tiny hands toward Nicholas, who was sitting on the grass in his expensive dress shirt, completely unconcerned about the grass stains as he made silly faces to make his niece laugh.
Alexander walked out onto the terrace, carrying a silver tray with fresh tea and a thin leather document folder.
“You’re spoiling her, Nicholas,” Alexander smiled, setting the tray down beside Sarah.
“She’s a Morgan,” Nicholas replied, lifting Hope into his arms and blowing a raspberry on her cheek, making the baby burst into a fit of adorable laughter. “She’s supposed to be spoiled.”
Sarah laughed softly, taking a sip of her chamomile tea. She looked at her brothers, her heart filled with a calm she had never known in her thirty-one years of life.
“What’s in the folder, Alex?” Sarah asked, nodding toward the leather case.
Alexander sat down across from her, his expression turning businesslike, yet warm.
“The final decree,” Alexander said gently. “The divorce is finalized. Christopher signed every document without a single objection. You have full legal and physical custody of Hope. His parental rights have been permanently terminated per his plea bargain.”
Sarah took a deep breath, feeling an invisible weight lift from her chest forever. “And the criminal cases?”
“Margaret Wellington was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison yesterday for financial fraud,” Alexander reported calmly. “Christopher received seven years for his involvement in the firm's illegal accounting schemes. Victoria Thorne served six months for grand theft and is currently working as a retail clerk in Idaho, blacklisted from every major city.”
Sarah looked down at her hands, then over at her daughter, who was happily chewing on a wooden teething ring held by Nicholas.
“I used to think I was weak,” Sarah whispered softly. “When I was sitting on that curb in the rain... I thought my life was over. I thought I was born to be discarded.”
Alexander reached across the table, taking his sister’s hand in his, squeezing it tight.
May you like
“You were never weak, Sarah,” Alexander said, his voice filled with absolute conviction. “You survived without us for twenty-three years. You carried that baby through hell. You gave us a reason to remember why we built all of this.”
Nicholas looked up from playing with Hope, his eyes serious. “We built an empire so no one could ever push us around again, Sarah. But having you back... having Hope here... that’s the only part of the empire that actually matters.”
