Chapter 9 - Closing the Circle
That evening, Clara drove herself back to the estate, choosing a modest sedan over the luxury towncars that usually escorted her.
The autumn air was crisp, carrying the scent of burning leaves and approaching winter. As she pulled through the iron gates—now repaired, reinforced, and gleaming with polished black iron—she felt a profound sense of closure settle over her spirit.
She walked up the front steps, pausing for a moment on the porch where her grandfather had stood months ago with his armed men. She remembered the terror, the blood on her lip, the shattered wineglass, and the exact moment she realized that the people who tried to destroy her had actually built her armor.
Inside the grand foyer, Bruno—the massive Cane Corso that had once guarded the Moretti estate and later found its way into Clara’s care—trotted over, letting out a low, happy rumble as he rested his heavy head against her knee.
She knelt down, scratching behind the dog's ears. "Hey big guy. Long day."
Vincent appeared at the top of the grand staircase, holding a glass of aged scotch. "There’s a gala for the Northwestern Law Alumni Association downtown this Friday," he said casually. "They’re honoring the top academic transfers of the year. Are you going?"
Clara stood up, looking up at her grandfather with a confident, radiant smile.
May you like
"Tell them to reserve the keynote seat," Clara said. "I have a speech to write."
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