CHAPTER 5 — A New Beginning
CHAPTER 5 — A New Beginning
Months passed.
Vanessa received a lengthy prison sentence.
Marcus accepted a plea agreement and agreed to repay millions in stolen assets.
Daniel renovated the house completely.
The room where his mother had suffered became a bright sunroom overlooking the garden.
She slowly regained her strength through therapy.
Elena refused every financial reward Daniel offered.
"I only did what anyone should have done."
Daniel smiled.
"No.
You did what almost no one would have done."
As they spent more time together, friendship slowly turned into something deeper.
Neither rushed it.
Both had been hurt.
Both needed time to heal.
One spring afternoon, Daniel asked Elena to walk with him through the garden his mother loved.
He knelt beneath the blooming cherry tree.
"Will you marry me?"
Tears filled Elena's eyes.
May you like
"Yes."
His mother cried harder than anyone.
