Chapter 7 - The Shadows Begin to Fade
The afternoon light filtered through the tall windows of the courthouse lobby as Madison, Daniel, and Marcus walked out toward the marble steps.
As they reached the exit, Richard Whitaker stepped out from the side corridor, blocking their path. He looked exhausted, his designer suit looking slightly rumpled, the effortless confidence of a Chicago venture capitalist completely stripped away.
“Madison,” Richard said quietly, not looking at Daniel. “I just... I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
Madison stopped, looking up at the man who had pretended she didn’t exist for three years. “You didn't know, Richard. But you also didn't care to ask. Every time I was sent to my room during your dinner parties, you never once wondered why.”
Richard flinched, looking down at the marble floor. “She told me you were studying... she told me you preferred your privacy.”
“She told you what was convenient,” Madison said coldly. “Just like she told you whatever was convenient to lock down a ring and a lifestyle. I hope your divorce lawyer is better than hers.”
Richard didn't answer. He simply stepped aside, watching as Madison and her father walked past him down the courthouse steps.
Waiting at the bottom of the steps was a sleek, black sedan with Washington State license plates. Frank, the driver who had escorted them from the airport, opened the rear door and nodded respectfully.
“Everything set for the flight back to Seattle, Mr. Carter?” Frank asked.
“Everything is set,” Daniel replied, holding the door for his daughter.
As Madison slid into the comfortable leather backseat, she looked back one last time at the grand stone pillars of the Chicago courthouse. A heavy chapter of her life—a chapter written in lies, neglect, and abandonment—was finally closed.
“Dad?” she asked softly as Daniel climbed in beside her and pulled the door shut.
“Yeah, Maddy?”
“Are we really going back to Washington?”
Daniel smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close against his chest. “We can go anywhere you want, Maddy. Seattle, the mountains, a cabin by the water, or right back to the house where I spent seven years building a life just in case you ever walked back through my front door.”
May you like
Madison leaned her head against her father’s shoulder, closing her eyes as the car pulled away from the curb and headed toward O’Hare for the journey west.
For the first time in her life, she wasn't waiting for someone to leave. She was finally going home.
