Chapter 10 - A Beautiful New Wish
One year later.
The Sinclair estate looked entirely different. The wild, choking ivy had been trimmed back, revealing the beautiful Victorian architecture underneath. The boarded-up windows were replaced with massive, pristine panes of glass that allowed the morning sunlight to flood into every corner of the house. The overgrown thorns were gone, replaced by a sprawling garden of vibrant, blooming pink roses.
The front doors were wide open. The sound of children's laughter and light music drifted out into the warm summer air.
I stood in the grand foyer, watching the transformation. With the massive wealth of the Sinclair trust fund, Mara and I had transformed the manor into the Diana Sinclair Foundation for Orphaned and Abused Children. It was now a sanctuary, a safe haven where kids who had experienced trauma could find art therapy, medical care, and above all, unconditional love.
"Avery, the catering staff needs your approval on the menu," Julian called out from the dining room, walking toward me with a clipboard. Over the past year, he had cut ties with his father's toxic legacy and become the chief financial officer of our foundation, working tirelessly to ensure every dime went to helping others. His presence had become my greatest comfort.
"Tell them whatever they choose is fine, as long as there is no vanilla frosting," I joked, smiling warmly at him.
Julian laughed, stepping close and gently kissing my forehead. "Deal."
Aunt Mara emerged from the kitchen, holding a beautiful, simple strawberry tart with a single candle lit in the center. The children from the foundation crowded around, their faces bright and full of joy.
"Happy twenty-seventh birthday, Avery," Mara said, her eyes shining with absolute pride.
Everyone began to sing. It wasn't the terrifying, forced performance from a year ago. It was genuine, loud, and filled with love.
I looked down at the glowing flame of the candle. I touched the silver locket around my neck. Inside it, I had placed two photos: one of Diana holding me as a baby, and one of Mara, Julian, and me taken just last week.
"Go on, Avery," Julian whispered in my ear, his voice full of warmth. "Make a wish."
May you like
I closed my eyes. But for the first time in my entire life, I realized I didn't need to wish for freedom, or safety, or to be loved. I already had everything I had ever dreamed of.
I opened my eyes, smiled at my real family, and blew out the candle, letting the smoke carry away the last remnants of the past into a beautiful, bright, and boundless future
