Part 11
The penthouse was quiet when I returned.
The soft, warm lighting felt like a sanctuary after the glaring lights of the corporate world and the media flashbulbs.
I walked straight to the nursery.
The two cribs had been set up near the window, where the soft afternoon sun filtered through the sheer curtains.
My son was kicking his small legs, while my daughter was staring intently at a plush toy, her dark eyes wide and curious.
I approached them slowly, the heavy burden of the past twenty-four hours melting away with every step.
I reached down and lifted them both into my arms, holding them tight against my chest.
"You're safe now," I whispered into their soft hair, inhaling that sweet, pure newborn scent. "No one will ever use you. No one will ever cast us out into the cold again."
Marcus stood at the doorway, observing the quiet moment with a respectful distance.
"The federal prosecutors just called, Ms. Vale," he murmured softly so as not to startle the babies. "Thomas Vance’s bail has been denied. Because of the scale of the financial fraud and the flight risk associated with his multiple aliases, he will remain in custody until the trial."
"Good," I replied, not looking up from my children. "Let him stay where he belongs."
"There is one more thing," Marcus added, his tone turning cautious. "Vivian has requested a private meeting with you. She claims she has information regarding the backers Thomas was speaking to on the encrypted line. She wants to trade it for total immunity from any civil lawsuits the Vale estate might file against her."
I rocked my babies gently, thinking it over.
Vivian was a parasite, a woman who sought wealth without labor, but she was also a survivor.
She knew exactly who held the power now.
"Tell her I will think about it," I said. "If her information leads to the people who tried to dismantle my father's company, I might consider letting her keep whatever small scraps of dignity she has left. But if she lies to me even once, I will ensure she shares a cell block with Thomas."
"Understood," Marcus said. "I will convey the terms."
He turned to leave, but I called out to him.
"Marcus?"
"Yes, Ms. Vale?"
"Have the legal team begin the process of changing the children's surnames," I ordered, my voice firm. "They are no longer Harringtons. From this day forward, they are Vales."
Marcus offered a sharp, supportive nod. "It will be done by tomorrow afternoon."
As he left, I looked out the window at the sprawling city below.
The empire was mine again.
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The predators had tried to circle the wounded wolf, but they had forgotten that the wolf still knew how to hunt.
And now, the territory was entirely secure.
