Chapter 10 - A New Dawn at the Vale Estate
Three months later, the rain over Westchester had given way to brilliant autumn sunshine, painting the leaves of the grand estate in shades of gold and crimson.
The front gates of the manor were wide open, welcoming a new era—one built not on fear and shadows, but on truth and protection. Inside the sprawling country kitchen, the smell of fresh pancakes and roasted coffee filled the air.
Lily, Grace, and Emma sat high in their wooden booster seats, chattering away in a cheerful mix of toddler sentences and bright laughter.
"Mama, more syrup!" Emma demanded happily, pointing a sticky finger at the table.
Hannah smiled, pouring warm maple syrup over her stack of pancakes while leaning against Dominic’s side. Dominic wrapped his strong arm around her waist, pulling her close as he kissed the top of her head.
"They talk too much now," Dominic teased softly, a playful smirk touching his lips. "I’m starting to miss the silence."
"Oh, shut up," Hannah laughed, elbowing him playfully in the ribs. "You love it, and you know it."
May you like
"I do," Dominic murmured, his dark eyes softening as he looked down at her with complete, unfiltered devotion. "I love all four of my girls more than life itself."
As the triplets burst into another round of giggles, reaching out their tiny hands for breakfast, Hannah looked around the sunlit kitchen, realizing that the nightmare in the restaurant had been just the beginning of her real life. She was home.
