Chapter 14 - AMELIA’S FINAL GIFT

Six months later, Daniel Cross was convicted on multiple charges connected to fraud, kidnapping, conspiracy, and Amelia’s death.

Marcus Reed accepted a plea agreement and testified.

Several executives went to prison.

Margaret pleaded guilty to financial crimes related to the cover-up.

She avoided charges connected directly to Amelia’s death after investigators confirmed she had not participated in the crash.

But she did not avoid consequences.

Victor refused to use his influence to protect her.

Before sentencing, Margaret asked to see him.

They sat across from each other in a private room.

“I’m sorry.”

Victor looked at her.

“I know.”

“Will you ever forgive me?”

“I don’t know.”

Margaret nodded.

“That’s fair.”

She slid an envelope across the table.

“Amelia gave me this before she died.”

Victor opened it later at home.

Inside was a photograph.

Amelia holding newborn Ethan.

On the back, she had written:

Victor worries too much.

Ethan cries too much.

And somehow I love them both more every day.

Victor laughed.

Then cried.

Lily found him sitting beside Amelia’s old reading chair.

She didn’t ask what was wrong.

She simply sat beside him.

After a while, Victor handed her the photograph.

“She would’ve liked you staying.”

Lily smiled.

“She would’ve told me to stop letting you boss everyone around.”

“That sounds believable.”

Silence.

Then Victor asked the question he had avoided for months.

“Are you leaving?”

Lily looked surprised.

“The investigation is over.”

“My reason for coming here is finished.”

Victor nodded.

“But?”

She looked toward the hallway.

Ethan was asleep upstairs.

“But somewhere along the way, this stopped being an investigation.”

Victor looked at her.

“What did it become?”

Lily smiled.

“A family.”

Neither of them said anything for a long moment.

They didn’t need to.

Then Ethan’s voice came through the baby monitor.

“Li-Li!”

Lily stood.

Victor caught her hand.

She turned.

“Stay.”

One word.

No command.

No contract.

No obligation.

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