Chapter 10 - The Clean Break
Noah turned away from the wreckage of his almost-marriage, reaching down to scoop Lily up into his arms. The little girl rested her chin on his broad shoulder, her small arms wrapping securely around his neck.
“Are we going home, Uncle Noah?” Lily asked softly.
“Yeah, peanut,” Noah whispered, kissing her forehead. “We’re going home.”
Rachel fell into step beside them, her arm linked securely in Noah’s. As they walked toward the double glass doors of the venue, the crowd of guests parted like the Red Sea, expressions of awe and respect replacing the earlier tension. Marcus fell in behind them, signaling the venue security team to escort Grant, his lawyers, and Allison off the premises immediately.
Behind them, the sounds of Allison’s desperate pleas and Grant’s furious barking at his legal counsel faded into the background.
Noah stepped out into the crisp, cool autumn air. The heavy clouds that had threatened rain all morning were finally breaking apart, letting shards of late-afternoon golden sunlight pierce the horizon.
For the first time in seven years, Noah felt like he could breathe without Grant Holloway’s shadow suffocating his lungs. His company was safe. His mother’s memory was honored. His sister and niece were by his side.
They reached the black SUV waiting at the curb. Marcus opened the passenger door, helping Rachel and Lily inside.
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Noah took a deep breath, resting his hands on the car door, looking back at the lavish country club one last time. It was a monument to greed, pride, and betrayal. But he had walked out of the trap unbroken.
He was about to climb into the driver’s seat when the heavy crunch of gravel behind the vehicle caught his attention.
