Chapter 6 - The Unbroken HorizonSix months later, the spring sun was shining brightly over the rolling green lawns of my new waterfront estate in Marblehead.
The air was warm, smelling of ocean salt, fresh earth, and blooming hydrangeas.
I sat on the wide stone terrace overlooking the Atlantic, wearing a comfortable white linen dress, working on my laptop. Beside me sat Nathan Brooks, sipping an iced espresso, reviewing a stack of finalized legal documents.
"The final dissolution decree was signed by the judge this morning, Claire," Nathan smiled, sliding a single page of heavy court paper across the table toward me. "You are officially, legally divorced. All pre-marital assets remain entirely yours, and your grandfather's trust is completely protected."
I picked up the document, looking at my name printed across the top: CLAIRE VANCE.
No Prescott. Just Vance.
A deep, profound breath of fresh air filled my chest—a breath that tasted like pure, unadulterated freedom.
"And Prescott Global?" I asked softly, setting the paper down.
"The board removed Aaron as CEO three months ago," Nathan reported. "His mother, Eleanor, was forced to liquidate forty percent of her private holdings to pay the corporate wire fraud fines, and Jasmine Cole was terminated from the company following a secondary internal investigation. She’s currently facing civil litigation from the board."
I nodded slowly, feeling no bitterness or lingering anger. The storm had passed, leaving behind a clean, pristine sky.
"Aaron relocated to a small regional logistics office in Chicago," Nathan added gently. "He tried to send a letter to my office for you last week."
"Did you read it?" I asked.
May you like
"No," Nathan replied, picking up a silver lighter and setting the unopened letter on a metal tray, letting the paper catch fire, watching the ash drift away in the spring breeze. "I figured you had better things to do than read apologies from ghosts."
I let out a soft, genuine laugh that echoed across the sunny terrace, feeling a radiant warmth bloom inside my heart.
