Chapter 7 - The Lake Forest MorningThe sun rose slowly over Lake Forest, burning away the grey remnants of the freezing November storm. Golden light flooded through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Kang estate, warming the hardwood floors.
In the master bedroom, the rain-streaked glass reflected a peaceful, quiet morning.
Daniel sat in his wheelchair, dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark trousers. His legs were positioned naturally, covered by a cashmere blanket. On the bedside table sat a steaming cup of black coffee.
The door opened softly, and Amara walked in. She was wearing a silk robe, her hair tied back neatly, holding a tablet displaying international financial market reports.
She stopped beside his chair and looked down at him.
"The federal prosecutors seized all of Marcus's assets by sunrise," Amara said, a faint smile touching her lips. "And Vincent is currently being interrogated by federal marshals in downtown Chicago. He’s talking about everything to save himself a life sentence."
Daniel took a sip of his coffee, setting the cup down on the tray. He looked up at his wife.
"You planned the trap the night Marcus visited, didn't you?"
"I planned it the moment I realized someone inside our organization was leaking logistics data," Amara corrected, pulling up a chair and sitting directly across from him. "You provided the muscle and the distraction. I provided the architecture."
Daniel reached out, his strong, calloused hand taking hers.
"You didn't just stand beside me, Amara," Daniel said quietly, his voice carrying a deep, raw sincerity that he rarely showed anyone. "You carried me when I was ready to crawl."
Amara squeezed his hand back, her dark eyes shining with quiet pride. "I told you, Daniel. You were never your legs. You were never your gun."
"Then what are we now?"
May you like
Amara leaned forward, resting her forehead gently against his shoulder.
"We’re the ones who survived."
