Chapter 9 - The Eviction of the Past
Six months later, the Bayside estate was finally complete.
The gardens were blooming with white roses and lavender, and the old oak trees were green with the return of spring. The house was no longer a symbol of betrayal; it was a sanctuary.
Eleanor and Julian had both pleaded guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges. Julian was sentenced to eighteen years in a maximum-security prison, while Eleanor was sentenced to eight years, her high-society life permanently ended in a cold, grey cell.
I had decided to move my headquarters from New York back to our hometown. I wanted to be close to Emily, to make sure she was always safe.
I stood on the back terrace, watching Emily paint. She was working on a large canvas, a beautiful, vibrant landscape of the ocean we had visited as children. Her laughter was light and genuine, echoing through the gardens.
"Claire!" she called out, waving her paintbrush at me. "Come look at this! I think I finally got the blue right."
I walked down the stone steps, my heart fuller than it had been in twenty years. "It’s perfect, Emily. Just like you."
May you like
She smiled, wiping a speck of paint from her cheek. "I’m going to open my own gallery downtown next month, Claire. Dr. Sterling says I’m fully ready."
"I know you are, sweetie," I said, pulling her into a tight, warm hug. "And I’ll be the first person in line to buy your paintings."
