Chapter 18 - SATURDAY WITHOUT A WEDDING
Saturday arrived under a clear blue sky.
The estate should have been filled with music.
Instead, investigators moved through the east wing.
News vans waited beyond the gates.
Brooke Harrington had been formally charged with financial crimes, conspiracy, obstruction, and evidence tampering.
Additional charges connected to Michael’s death remained under review.
Her father was arrested at a private airfield while attempting to leave the country.
Gerald Pike agreed to cooperate.
Elliot Vane remained in custody.
Dominic declined every request for a public statement.
At noon, Natalie walked to Catherine’s cottage with Noah.
Dominic joined them.
Noah carried a small wooden box.
“What’s that?”
Dominic asked.
“Grandma’s things.”
Inside were photographs Emma had recovered from storage.
Catherine and Natalie.
Catherine holding newborn Noah.
Michael standing beside Dominic at a summer barbecue.
Noah placed them on the mantel.
Natalie watched him.
“This is still our house?”
Noah asked.
Dominic crouched.
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
“As long as you want it.”
Noah looked toward Natalie.
“Mom too?”
Dominic smiled.
“Especially Mom.”
Natalie looked away to hide tears.
Dominic stood.
“I had Samuel amend the estate protections.”
Natalie frowned.
“Amend them?”
“The cottage is now irrevocably yours.”
“No residency condition.”
“No marriage condition.”
“No administrative loophole.”
“And Noah’s education trust is being restored from my personal accounts while the stolen funds are recovered.”
Natalie shook her head.
“You don’t have to replace what Brooke stole.”
“Yes.”
“Dominic.”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
He smiled faintly.
“You can argue.”
“You’ll lose.”
For the first time in months, Natalie laughed.
Noah ran outside toward the garden.
Dominic watched him.
Natalie stood beside her brother.
“Are you okay?”
He took a long moment.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s allowed.”
Dominic nodded.
“I keep thinking about the wedding.”
Natalie looked concerned.
“Missing her?”
“No.”
He looked toward the mansion.
“I keep thinking about how close I came to giving her legal access to everything.”
Natalie exhaled.
“You stopped it.”
“Noah stopped it.”
She smiled.
“He called you.”
“And Emma didn’t betray that I was home.”
Natalie laughed softly.
“Emma would stare down an army for this family.”
Dominic nodded.
“She already has.”
From the cottage steps, Emma watched them.
She had worked in the Mercer household long enough to see Catherine raise two children.
Long enough to watch those children become adults.
Long enough to know that powerful families were rarely destroyed by enemies outside the gate.
May you like
The worst damage usually came from people invited inside.
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