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Victoria slammed the heavy oak front door so hard the glass pane rattled, its echo bouncing off the sterile, minimalist walls of the foyer. Her chest heaved with a volatile mixture of humiliation and blinding rage. / Chapter 18 / 25

Chapter 18 - The Coastal SanctuaryThe coastal town of Oakhaven, Maine, felt like stepping into a different century. Nestled against rugged granite cliffs overlooking the roaring Atlantic Ocean, their new home was a sprawling, shingle-style cottage with wrap-around porches, a massive stone fireplace, and a towering oak tree in the front yard.

Maya and Leo took to the coastal lifestyle instantly. Within their first month, they enrolled in the local coastal elementary and middle schools, made friends with the neighborhood kids, and spent their weekends exploring tide pools and hiking cliffside trails.

Arthur set up a quiet, remote cybersecurity consultancy from a sunlit home office overlooking the crashing waves. He no longer answered to corporate boards, ruthless executives, or high-stakes conspiracy investors. He worked on his own terms, taking only the contracts that interested him, and dedicated his afternoons to being fully present for his kids.

The shadows of the past felt a thousand miles away, swallowed by the endless, rhythmic crashing of the Maine surf.

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