Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH UNLOCKEDTwo months later, spring had finally arrived in Chicago, washing away the bitter memory of the winter snow.
The trial of Harrison Vance was brief and devastating; with airtight financial records, Vance was sentenced to twelve years in federal prison for grand larceny and wire fraud. Whitmore Enterprises was stronger than ever, and Thomas had instituted a permanent corporate foundation dedicated to supporting single-parent families and housing assistance across the city—named, quietly, The Sophie and Rose Initiative.
Marianne had taken on a role as the director of the foundation, using her lived experience to ensure that corporate charity actually reached the people who needed it most, without humiliation or red tape.
The Lake Forest estate was no longer a silent museum. It echoed with laughter, the patter of little feet, and the sweet melody of piano music that Rose played every afternoon.
