That anniversary never came.
A year after the gala, Seraphina returned to the house one final time.
The rooms were empty.
The kitchen echoed.
She stood beside the marble island.
For some reason, she remembered the broken serving dish.
The halibut.
The cleaning gloves.
The tiny cut on her finger.
So much had changed because of that night.
Her father was alive publicly now.
Bellamy Holdings had launched a $900 million housing and medical-access fund.
The employee-owned company created from Holloway Meridian had become profitable.
And Seraphina had learned how peaceful a home could feel when nobody inside required her to pretend she was smaller.
Before leaving, she walked downstairs.
Past the wine cellar.
Past the hidden panel.
Into the secret office.
Julian had already removed most of the secure systems.
Only the desk remained.
On it sat one object.
Grant’s watch.
Seraphina had forgotten it existed.
She picked it up.
