Snow swept sideways down Broad Street, burying the concrete in a sheet of gray ice. The black SUV pulled up to the curb, its exhaust blossoming into heavy white plumes in the

The next morning, Scarlet was awakened by the loud, rhythmic thud of heavy construction equipment outside her window.

She sat up, adjusting her pillows, and looked out through the glass. A crew of twelve men in high-visibility jackets were working in the sub-zero cold. Heavy machinery was breaking through the frozen granite of the front steps, installing a custom-built, gently sloped stone ramp lined with heated pipes beneath the surface to melt snow automatically.

In the bathroom, two plumbers were already installing heavy brass grab bars and a padded teak shower bench.

A soft knock sounded at her door.

“Come in,” Scarlet called out.

The door opened, and little Leo stepped into the room. He was dressed in a dark green sweater and corduroy pants. In his hands, he clutched Scarlet’s spiral notebook.

He didn't speak. He walked straight to her bedside, laid the notebook on the mattress, and pointed a small, pale finger at the open page.

Scarlet looked down.

The drawing was done in heavy, dark pencil strokes. It depicted a tall, dark fortress surrounded by sharp iron fences. Inside the fortress wall, sitting on a bench beneath a tree, was a small boy holding the hand of a woman in a wheelchair. Above them, the sky was filled with dark storm clouds, but a thin ray of sun was drawn directly over the woman’s head.

Scarlet felt a lump form in her throat. She looked up at Leo’s serious, watchful face.

“This is beautiful, Leo,” she said softly, keeping her voice completely calm. “Did you draw the lady in the chair?”

Leo nodded once.

“She looks very safe inside that fortress,” Scarlet added, pointing to the drawing. “Is that where we are?”

Leo nodded again. Then, to Scarlet’s utter shock, he reached out, touched the sleeve of her sweater, and gently pulled it toward the door.

“You want me to come outside?” she asked.

Leo gave a quick, firm nod.

Scarlet transferred herself into her wheelchair, which Ruth had meticulously cleaned and oiled overnight. She followed the small boy down the long corridor toward the main dining hall.

Garrison was standing at the head of a massive mahogany dining table, holding a mug of black coffee while scanning documents on his phone. When he saw Scarlet and Leo walk in together, his movements froze.

He watched in silence as his mute son pulled out a chair beside his own, looked at Scarlet, and patted the seat of her wheelchair as if inviting her to join him.

“Good morning, Scarlet,” Garrison said, his voice lower than usual.

“Good morning, Mr. Vance,” Scarlet replied.

Garrison walked over, setting his mug down. “In this house, it’s Garrison.”

He glanced down at the notebook Leo was still holding. “He hasn't shown a drawing to anyone since his mother passed away three years ago.”

Scarlet looked up at him, surprised. “His mother?”

“An accident,” Garrison said briefly, a dark shadow crossing his features before vanishing behind his stoic mask. “Leo stopped speaking the day it happened. We’ve brought in specialists from Boston, New York, and London. None of them could get him to pick up a pencil.”

Leo tapped Scarlet’s arm, pointing toward a plate of fresh fruit and warm pastries Ruth had placed on the table.

“He likes you,” Garrison noted, sitting down at the head of the table.

“Children don't care about grand gestures, Garrison,” Scarlet said gently as she poured herself some tea. “They care about whether an adult respects their space. You gave him space, so he feels safe.”

Garrison watched her as she interacted with his son, noting the quiet dignity that radiated from her despite everything she had endured the previous night.

Before Garrison could speak, Dom entered the dining hall, his phone held to his ear. He looked at Garrison and gave a subtle nod.

“The legal team is ready,” Dom reported quietly. “And Vivian Callaway just arrived at her main office on Westminster Street.”

Garrison stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. He looked down at Scarlet.

“I have some business to attend to in the city,” he said smoothly. “Ruth will ensure you have everything you need. Feel free to use the library or the gardens.”

“Thank you,” Scarlet said.