Chapter 7 - The Inheritance Restored
Two months later.
The spring sun shone bright and warm over the rolling green lawn of the Grant Estate—a sprawling, magnificent stone house overlooking Lake Michigan that had sat vacant since Ethan Grant's death.
The heavy steel gates were wide open.
Inside, light streamed through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating freshly painted nursery walls, soft wool rugs, and shelves filled with children's books and wooden toys.
Maya and Chloe—now sixteen months old—were toddling happily across the grass in the backyard, chasing a golden retriever puppy that Luca had brought over earlier that morning.
I stood on the stone patio holding a glass of iced tea, wearing a simple white summer dress and sandals. My skin was warm, my hair flowed freely in the gentle lake breeze, and the dark circles that used to frame my eyes were completely gone.
Agent Miller walked out onto the patio from the French doors, carrying a leather briefcase.
"Official documents, Harper," Agent Miller announced, laying the file on the glass outdoor table. "The probate court cleared the final transfer this morning. The Grant Foundation, the estate, and full legal guardianship of Maya and Chloe are officially yours."
I looked at the legal documents, my thumb tracing my real name printed neatly at the top: Harper Miller-Grant.
"And Franklin?" I asked quietly.
"He accepted a plea bargain thirty minutes ago," Agent Miller reported. "Fifteen years without parole. Damian Vale got twenty-five in a maximum-security facility. Neither of them will ever step foot near you or your family again."
I let out a quiet, peaceful breath, watching my little sisters giggle as the puppy licked their shoes on the lawn.
May you like
"Thank you, Miller," I said genuinely. "For answering the phone that night."
"Thank your uncle Ethan," Miller replied softly. "He knew you were the only one strong enough to protect those girls. He was right."
