Chapter 8 - Vincent and Claire Finally Chose Each Other Without a Contract, and Their New Life Began With One Last Threat
Six months passed.
The foundation grew.
Claire restored paintings for charity auctions.
Vincent built legitimate companies.
Their marriage became real.
Not perfect.
Real.
They argued.
They apologized.
They laughed.
They learned how to be a family.
Then Claire received a letter.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph of a young woman.
A note:
YOU HAVE A SISTER.
Claire stared.
“My sister?”
Vincent read the note.
“Could be another trick.”
The photograph looked familiar.
The woman had Claire's eyes.
Daniel confirmed it.
“Yes.”
Her name was Lily Bell.
She had been taken at birth.
Marcus had hidden her.
Why?
Because Lily had inherited another key to the original ledger.
They found her in Oregon.
She was twenty-two.
A university student.
She knew nothing about the past.
Claire hugged her.
Lily cried.
“I've always wondered why I was adopted.”
Daniel explained.
The family had been hiding her to save her.
The sisters reunited.
But Marcus had one last move.
He escaped prison.
He took Lily.
Vincent mobilized everything.
But this time he didn't use violence.
He used the law.
He contacted federal agents.
Provided the evidence.
Tracked the money.
Tracked the phone.
Found Marcus.
Lily was rescued.
Marcus was captured.
The last surviving piece of the empire was finally destroyed.
Claire looked at Vincent afterward.
“You could have gone after him yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
He smiled.
“Because I promised you.”
“What?”
“No more becoming the men who hurt us.”
She kissed him.
May you like
“You kept your promise.”
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