Chapter 18 - The Broken Crown
A month later, the final legal dust had settled. The Montgomery estate was officially demolished, replaced by a sprawling public park and children's library funded entirely by the liquidated assets of Sterling’s former firm.
I took Hazel to visit the opening of the park on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. The ribbon was cut, and dozens of children were running across the green grass where the cold marble foyer once stood.
Hazel held my hand, looking up at the high stone archway at the entrance, which bore a silver plaque reading: The Hazel Vance Sanctuary.
"Mommy," she whispered, tugging on my coat. "Is Daddy ever coming back?"
I kneeled down, brushing a lock of soft hair from her face, looking straight into her clear, bright eyes. "No, sweetheart. He's somewhere far away, learning how to be a better person."
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"Will we ever have to go back to that cold house?"
"Never," I promised, kissing her forehead. "This is our home now."
