Chapter 10 - The True Feast
December arrived again, covering the city of Chicago in a thick, beautiful blanket of white snow. The Lincoln Park mansion was no longer silent, and it was no longer perfectly, coldly minimalist.
The grand living room was filled with the warm, golden light of a massive Christmas tree, its branches covered in mismatched ornaments that Ethan had picked out himself. The kitchen, once a sterile stage for Cassandra’s charity boxes, was alive with the rich, heavy scents of roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, and three different kinds of pies cooling on the marble counter.
The grand dining table was set for three.
Mrs. Wilson sat in the seat of honor, wearing a festive red sweater, her laughter ringing through the warm room as she watched Richard attempt to carve the turkey with the awkward movements of a man who was still learning how to manage a kitchen.
"Richard, you're shredding the breast meat," she laughed, standing up to take the knife from his hands. "Let a professional handle the holiday bird."
"Thank you, Mrs. Wilson," Richard said, smiling widely as he wiped his hands on a flour-streaked apron. "I'm still better at logistics than roasting."
Ethan sat at the table, his cheeks full and healthy, his blue sweater fitting him perfectly now without any hollows beneath his eyes. He didn't look at the door. He didn't look around the room with terror. His gaze was fixed entirely on his father, his face radiant with the absolute, unburdened security of a child who knew he was deeply loved.
Richard sat beside his son, pouring a glass of sparkling cider for the boy and a glass of water for himself. He reached out, his large hand gently covering Ethan’s, feeling the steady, warm strength of his son’s grip.
May you like
There were no plastic bags hidden under the bed now. No secret pantry codes in the study. No ghosts left in the trash cans of the kitchen.
The billionaire had completed the only deal that ever truly mattered. His son was safe, his house was a home, and their family was whole. And for Richard Blackwood, the beautiful mansion under the winter sky was filled to the absolute brim with love, justice, and a peace that would last forever.
