Chapter 8 - Protecting the Innocent
The victory over Mark and Evelyn didn't feel complete until one final piece was put into place: Chloe.
Mark’s eight-year-old daughter was the only truly innocent person caught in the crossfire of the Vance family's arrogance. Her biological mother had passed away when she was two, and Evelyn had been raising her to be just as elitist and cold as the rest of them. But during the three years I lived in the Vance household, Chloe had often snuck into my study, asking me to help her with her math homework or show her how computers worked.
Two days after the surrender of Vance Capital, I met with Chloe's court-appointed guardian at a park in Santa Monica.
Chloe was sitting on a bench, holding a melting ice cream cone, looking small and confused. When she saw me approaching, her face lit up for the first time in days.
"Sienna!" she cried, running over and wrapping her arms around my waist. "Grandma said you went away forever!"
I knelt down, hugging her tightly, smoothing her dark hair. "Grandma was wrong, sweetie. I'm right here."
"Are daddy and grandma in trouble?" Chloe asked softly, her big brown eyes filled with worry. "They won't tell me why we had to move out of the house."
I looked at the young girl, making a quiet vow to never let her become the bitter, hateful person her grandmother was.
"Your dad and grandma have to take a long break to fix some mistakes they made," I explained gently. "But you're going to be okay. You're going to live in a beautiful house near the beach with a wonderful family who will take great care of you."
I had arranged for full funding of Chloe’s education through an independent, untouchable trust fund created from my share of the settlement. Neither Mark nor Evelyn would ever be able to touch a single cent of it, but Chloe would be set for life, attending the best schools without the toxic influence of her family’s arrogance.
"Are you coming with me?" Chloe asked, clutching my hand.
"I'll visit you all the time," I promised, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "And whenever you need help with your math homework, or when you're ready to learn how to code... I'll be right there."
As the guardian led Chloe toward the playground, Eleanor walked up beside me, handing me a final stack of signed legal documents.
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"It's done, Sienna," Eleanor said. "The divorce is final. The trust for Chloe is sealed. Vance Capital is officially bankrupt, and Mark's probation terms have been locked in. You are completely, legally free."
I took the papers, looking out at the Pacific Ocean crashing against the sandy shore. The ocean didn't look terrifying anymore. It just looked vast, open, and full of possibilities.
