Chapter 10 - The New Beginning
Six months later, the crisp autumn wind blew perfectly through the historic streets of Boston.
I walked proudly across the university campus, my leg completely healed and my head held high.
My father had been formally sentenced to life in a maximum-security federal prison without the possibility of parole.
Olivia was currently serving a ten-year sentence for conspiracy and attempted insurance fraud.
The corrupt police chief and the diner owner had both been arrested during the massive federal sweep.
I had successfully claimed my mother's stolen life insurance money with Liam's expert legal help.
I used the funds to pay for my tuition, secure a beautiful apartment, and start a completely new life.
Liam had even moved his private investigation firm to Boston, and we often met for coffee between my classes.
I was no longer the unwanted, abused daughter trapped in a dead-end town.
I was a survivor who had fought fiercely for her own happiness and won.
I sat down on a quiet park bench and opened a fresh textbook, ready to study for my exams.
Everything was perfectly peaceful, and the bright future I had always dreamed of was finally mine.
I smiled as I reached into my bag to grab a highlighter.
My hand brushed against a strange, unmarked black envelope tucked deeply into the front pocket.
I opened it slowly, pulling out a single, freshly dated photograph of my father’s auto shop completely engulfed in flames.
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The handwriting on the back of the photo made my blood run absolutely cold.
"He was a fool, Grace, but you and I still have unfinished family business."
