Chapter 10 - The Queen’s LegacyThree days later, the rain finally cleared over Chicago, leaving the autumn air crisp, bright, and smelling of wet asphalt and clean beginnings.
Mina stood on the balcony of a sunlit, high-rise apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. On the coffee table inside, an advanced home-dialysis machine hummed quietly, and Toby was currently laughing at a cartoon on a massive sixty-inch television, looking healthier and more vibrant than he had in years.
The front door chimed softly.
Mina walked out to the foyer. A courier in a neat grey suit stood holding a thick leather briefcase and a single white envelope.
“Sign here, please, Miss Jenkins.”
Mina signed her name with a steady hand.
When she opened the envelope inside, it wasn't cash this time. It was a formal deed of ownership, transferring the lease of The Midnight Cup café into her name—along with a fifty-percent equity stake in the entire commercial block.
Tucked behind the legal papers was a small card with an embossed gold lion and a final handwritten line:
You’re still terrible at making coffee, Mina. But you’re an exceptional partner. Welcome to the family.
May you like
Mina looked out the window toward the glittering skyline of the North Side, a slow, genuine smile spreading across her face for the first time in years.
What path should Mina take next as she steps into her new role?
