Chapter 15 - The Unbroken Circle
The evening sun dipped below the Chicago skyline, casting a warm, golden glow across the water.
Clara walked slowly down the stone steps into the garden, where the guests were mingling under the canopy of lights. She paused near the edge of the terrace, looking out over the peaceful landscape.
Her mind flashed briefly back to that terrifying moment in the grand ballroom—the sparkling champagne, the silent poison, the cold realization of betrayal, and the brave fourteen-year-old girl who had walked straight into the lion's den to save her life.
She had learned the hardest lesson a person could learn: that true wealth isn't measured in bank accounts, corporate empires, or inherited titles. It is measured in loyalty, truth, and the courage to stand up when the world tries to force you down.
Teresa walked over, standing beside Clara and looking out at the horizon.
May you like
"Beautiful night," Teresa said softly.
"It really is," Clara replied, wrapping a warm arm around her friend's shoulders. "And the best part is, we built every single piece of it ourselves."
