Chapter 25
The Sterling Group celebrated,
its fifty-year anniversary,
with a grand gala.
Hundreds of employees gathered,
from all across globe,
to honor the company.
Clara stood on stage,
looking older but more,
beautiful and elegant than,
she had ever been.
Her hair had silver,
strands matching her gown,
shining like evening stars.
Lily stood beside her,
now a beautiful teenager,
learning the business fast.
"We started in dark,"
Clara spoke to crowd,
"but we found light,
through hard work loyalty,
and unchanging strong belief."
"The ocean belongs to,
those who respect it,"
"and we will always,
keep our waters clean."
The applause was deafening,
shaking the grand hall,
filled with deep love.
Marco wiped a tear,
from his old eye,
proud of journey made.
He had stayed by,
her side through everything,
from wheelchair to crown.
The legacy was safe,
passed down to next,
generation of strong women.
Henri held her hand,
squeezing it with love,
as they stepped down.
The music started playing,
and people began dancing,
celebrating the golden milestone.
Clara felt a profound,
sense of total completion,
looking at her people.
She had done it,
she had saved empire,
and built a paradise,
May you like
out of the ashes,
of a dark betrayal.
