Chapter 8 - New BeginningsAn hour later, I rode the private elevator up to the top floor of the Grand Horizon tower.
The elevator doors opened directly into my penthouse—the sprawling, glass-walled sanctuary that my family had so casually tried to gift away like a cheap trinket. The city lights stretched out infinitely below me, a glittering ocean of neon and stars.
I walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, unpinned my hair, and let it fall freely around my shoulders. I reached into my evening clutch, pulled out the diamond earring that had been knocked loose by my mother’s hand, and clipped it back onto my earlobe.
My phone buzzed on the marble kitchen island. It was an unknown number, sending a text message. I opened it.
From: Chloe Please, Elena... Mason left me. Mom is in a holding cell, and Dad has had a panic attack. We have nowhere to go. Please just answer the phone. We are your family.
I looked at the message for a long, quiet moment. Then, with a calm and steady hand, I blocked the number, tossed the phone onto the couch, and walked out onto the terrace.
May you like
The air was crisp and clean after the storm. I poured myself a glass of vintage champagne—real champagne, not the cheap bridal toast variety—and raised it to the glittering skyline.
Family takes care of family, they had said. And tonight, justice had finally taken care of us all.
