Julian’s eyes locked onto Clarabel, his gaze cold, calculating, and entirely devoid of the warmth that had once defined their marriage. Beside him, Sabrina Cole adjusted her posture, her smug smile widening as she watched Clarabel struggle to balance her sleeping baby and her heavy diaper bag.

The grand ballroom of the Vance Manor was a sea of crystal chandeliers, silk gowns, and hushed, nervous whispers. Julian and Victoria stood near the grand staircase, forced smiles plastered on their faces as they greeted guests who looked at them with thinly veiled suspicion.

"Smile, Julian," Victoria hissed through her teeth, her hand gripping her champagne glass. "If the governor sees you sweat, the deal is dead."

"The FBI is checking our accounts, Mother!" Julian whispered back, terrified. "Sabrina took the ledger. If she gives it to—"

"She won't. I've already taken care of the local precinct. She’ll be arrested before she reaches a federal building."

Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the ballroom swung open.

The room fell dead silent.

Clarabel walked in. She was wearing the same navy wrap dress from the courtroom, her baby strapped securely to her chest in a dark carrier. She looked completely out of place among the diamonds and tuxedoes, yet she carried herself with the majesty of a queen.

Beside her walked Arthur Hartwell and three men in dark suits with federal badges clipped to their lapels.

Behind them, looking smug and entirely vindicated, was Sabrina Cole.

"Clarabel!" Julian gasped, taking a step down the stairs. "What is the meaning of this? Get her out of here! Security!"

The security guards moved forward, but the federal agents stepped in front of them, showing their badges. "Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nobody move."

Victoria Vance didn't flinch. She descended the stairs slowly, her heels clicking on the marble. "This is a private residence. You have no authority here."

"Actually, Mrs. Vance, we do," the lead agent said, holding up an arrest warrant. "We have a federal warrant for your arrest, your son’s arrest, and several associates for bank fraud, conspiracy, and bribing a public official."

Julian turned to look at Sabrina. "You... you miserable traitor!"

"I learned from the best, Julian," Sabrina said, raising her glass to him with a cold, mocking smile.

Victoria looked at Clarabel, her eyes filled with pure, unfiltered hatred. "You think you've won? You're nothing. A charity case. A girl from the streets. You think you can tear down my family?"

Clarabel stepped forward, stopping just inches from the woman who had tried to steal her child. She looked Victoria dead in the eye.

"I didn't tear down your family, Victoria," Clarabel said, her voice clear and echoing through the silent ballroom. "Your own greed did. I’m just here to clean up the mess."

As the federal agents stepped forward and placed handcuffs on Victoria and a weeping, broken Julian, the guests watched in stunned silence. The cameras of the press, who had been tipped off by Sabrina, flashed through the glass windows of the manor, capturing the historic fall of the Vance dynasty.

Clarabel turned her back on the chaos. She walked out of the manor, down the stone steps, and into the cool night air. For the first time in three years, the air didn't feel too hot or too cold.

It felt just right.