Chapter 13 - Spring in the Gardens
The first green shoots of tulips broke through the dark soil of the Vance Manor gardens, unfurling their bright red and yellow petals beneath the March sun.
I walked along the stone pathway, pushing a sleek, custom-built double stroller that carried Julian and Leo. Their bright, curious eyes took in the vast expanse of the open sky, the dancing shadows of the weeping willows, and the sprawling stone architecture of the estate that now rightfully belonged to their bloodline.
Marcus walked a half-step behind me, holding a tablet with a quiet, relaxed demeanor that contrasted sharply with his usual rigid corporate tension.
"The federal sentencing hearing concluded an hour ago," Marcus reported quietly. "Graham received eighteen years at the federal correctional facility upstate. No possibility of parole for the first twelve. Chloe received three years with work-release eligibility after eighteen months."
I paused beside a stone fountain, watching the clear water ripple over the polished surface. "And Vivian?"
"Her health is declining rapidly," Marcus said softly. "Without her wealth, her social standing, and her daily medications, the stress of the trial has taken a severe toll. She’s currently staying in a state-funded assisted living facility on the east side of the city."
I didn't feel pity, nor did I feel hatred. Hatred required an investment of energy, and my energy was entirely dedicated to building a future for my sons and expanding an empire rooted in justice and strength.
"Make sure her medical bills are quietly covered through the philanthropic branch of the Vance Foundation," I instructed calmly, without turning around.
Marcus blinked in surprise, looking at me with a mixture of profound respect and lingering awe. "Covered, Ms. Vale? Even after everything she did?"
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"Not out of kindness, Marcus," I said, turning my head to meet his eyes with a cool, unyielding gaze. "Let her live out her days in quiet comfort, knowing every breath she draws, every meal she eats, and every piece of clothing on her back is being paid for by the very bloodline she tried to erase. That is a far more effective prison than concrete and steel."
Marcus smiled slowly, a deep, genuine expression of absolute admiration. "Consider it done, Ms. Vale."
