Chapter 19
Chapter 19: The Erasure
They didn't wait for the house to sell. They didn't even wait for the moving trucks.
The next morning, they walked out of the front doors carrying only three suitcases between them. Clothing, vital documents, and laptops. Everything else—the grand piano, the Persian rugs, the priceless artwork, the custom-made bed where the betrayal had festered—was left behind.
Emma stood by the waiting town car, looking back at the sprawling estate one last time.
The morning mist was thick, wrapping the stone facade in a pale, ghostly shroud. It looked beautiful, imposing, and completely lifeless.
The heavy oak doors were locked. The security system was armed. The chapter was closed.
"Get in," Richard said, already seated in the back of the car, his laptop open on his knees.
Emma slid in beside him. The door shut with a heavy, satisfying thud.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
May you like
"The city," Richard replied. "Don't take the scenic route."
As the car pulled away, accelerating down the long, winding driveway, Emma didn't look out the back window. There was nothing left to see.
