Chapter 14 - THE LAST NORMAN HEIR
William spread the contract across the table. Bella steadied herself against him while he read.
The fortune could be surrendered. He could give up the land, the company, the accounts—everything the bargain had shielded. The debt would end with him. The judge confirmed that Bella and the twins would be free.
William signed.
The ink vanished from the page. Far away, something heavy cracked. The room trembled beneath their feet.
Adrian began to shout about the company. Lilith hauled him toward the courthouse basement before the doorway could close. The collector followed, empty-handed. Without a claim on the twins or Lilith, he had nothing to collect.
William helped Bella through the door. Denise and Margaret were waiting with the police. Bella’s pain had eased, but William called the doctor anyway.
Outside, daylight touched the courthouse steps. Bella sat down while he spoke on the phone. His hands were shaking.
“Are we okay?” she asked when he finished.
“The doctor wants to see you.” He sat beside her. “I don’t know what happens to the company yet.”
Bella leaned against him. “We’ll handle what comes next.”
Lilith came out of the courthouse carrying Bella’s locket. She placed it in Bella’s hand.
“It belonged to your father,” she said. “Keep it for the children.”
Bella closed her fingers around it. “Where will you go?”
Lilith looked at the bright street as if she had never seen one without somewhere she was required to be.
“I don’t know,” she said.
William stood and offered her the car keys. “You can decide after we get Bella to the doctor.”
Lilith gave him a wary look, then took the keys.
May you like
At the bottom of the steps, Denise called Bella’s name. Bella turned. Her stepmother was crying and asking for a chance to explain.
Bella held William’s hand and kept walking.
