Chapter 14 - WHEN THE DOOR OPENED
Emmett tried to drag Rosalie toward the side entrance.
She resisted.
He tightened his grip.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Rosalie.”
She heard the old command in his voice.
The voice that had once frozen her.
It didn’t work anymore.
She dropped her weight.
Emmett lost balance for half a second.
That was enough.
An agent moved.
The gun struck the floor.
Manuel reached Rosalie.
Emmett lunged toward the weapon.
Three agents pinned him before he touched it.
He screamed.
Not in fear.
In outrage.
“This is my house!”
Rosalie stood over him.
For twenty years, those words had meant something.
My house.
My doctors.
My security.
My daughter.
My rules.
Now Emmett Durham lay facedown on his own ballroom floor with his wrists being secured behind his back.
Rosalie looked at the cuffs.
Then at her own scars.
Emmett saw her.
“Rosie.”
She flinched.
Only her mother called her that with love.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Rosalie said nothing.
“You need me.”
“No.”
“You have no idea what people will do to you when I’m gone.”
Rosalie looked at Manuel.
Then back at her father.
“I’m going to find out.”
Agents lifted Emmett.
He looked toward Manuel.
“You think she loves you?”
Manuel didn’t answer.
“She married you because trustees required it.”
Still nothing.
“She used you.”
Manuel finally spoke.
“Maybe.”
Rosalie turned toward him.
Manuel continued.
“We didn’t marry for love.”
Emmett smiled.
Then Manuel looked at Rosalie.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t decide what the marriage becomes.”
Rosalie’s eyes filled.
Emmett was taken away.
Dr. Voss later pleaded guilty to conspiracy, unlawful imprisonment, falsification of medical records, and obstruction.
His testimony helped prosecutors reconstruct two decades of crimes.
Daniel Mercer’s remains were identified through DNA.
Lorelei was formally declared alive.
Her false guardianship orders were voided.
The death certificate was canceled.
The investigation into Emmett expanded across three states.
Six former Durham executives were charged.
Two public officials resigned.
Pinecrest Estate was seized.
Rosalie never returned to live there.
Three months later, she stood outside the property one final time.
Manuel was beside her.
The snow had melted.
Workers were removing the Durham name from the stone entrance.
Rosalie watched each letter come down.
D.
U.
R.
H.
A.
M.
Manuel put his hands in his coat pockets.
“What happens to the house?”
“The court approved the sale.”
“Good.”
Rosalie smiled.
“I didn’t sell it.”
He looked at her.
“What did you do?”
“I donated it.”
“To who?”
“A foundation for women and children leaving coercive homes.”
Manuel stared at Pinecrest.
The place built to trap her would become a place people escaped to.
“That’s going to make your father furious.”
Rosalie smiled slightly.
“I know.”
“Is that why you did it?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“But it’s a nice bonus.”
He laughed.
Rosalie did too.
Then the smile faded.
“There’s something we need to talk about.”
Manuel knew immediately.
“The marriage.”
She nodded.
They had survived together.
That did not mean she owed him a life.
“I’ll sign whatever you want.”
Rosalie studied his face.
“You’d make it that easy?”
“It should always have been your choice.”
Her eyes filled again.
She reached into her coat.
For one terrible second, Manuel thought she was holding divorce papers.
Instead she removed two airline tickets.
He stared.
“Where?”
“Maine.”
“My mother wants to see the ocean.”
Manuel looked at the second ticket.
“And this one?”
Rosalie raised an eyebrow.
“She invited my husband.”
Manuel smiled.
“Your husband?”
“Temporarily.”
“Brutal.”
“I’m working on warmth.”
He took the ticket.
May you like
Rosalie slipped her hand into his.
This time, nobody had arranged it for a photograph.
