Chapter 8 - Rebuilding the Sanctuary
With the legal battles behind them, Michael made good on his promise.
He appointed Harrison as interim CEO of Carter Enterprises, retaining controlling shares while stepping back to take on a purely advisory role. He sold the cold, hollow mansion where the trauma had occurred, purchasing a beautiful, light-filled estate surrounded by pine trees and green meadows near the mountains.
The new home had huge skylights, open playrooms, and zero dark corners.
Michael hired a warm, kind-hearted child psychologist named Dr. Clara, who visited twice a week to help Ethan and Lily process their residual trauma through art and play therapy.
Slowly but surely, the smiles returned to the children's faces.
Ethan took up drawing and playing soccer, his laughter bouncing off the walls of the new house. Lily blossomed into a bubbly, curious young girl who loved planting flowers in the backyard garden with her dad.
One sunny afternoon, while Michael was sitting on the back porch watching Ethan kick a soccer ball across the grass, Lily ran up to him with a handful of yellow dandelions.
“Daddy, make a wish!” she giggled, holding a flower up to his nose.
Michael blew on the dandelion, watching the white seeds float away into the clear blue sky.
May you like
“What did you wish for, Daddy?” Lily asked, climbing onto his lap.
Michael hugged her tight, smelling the sweet scent of strawberry shampoo in her hair. “I wished that time would slow down, so I never miss another second of watching you two grow up.”
