The water in the cove lay completely flat, holding the gray reflection of the autumn sky like a polished glass mirror.

There were no mortgage notices left on the kitchen counter, no bank auditors at the front gate, and no default letters in the mail slot.

I had taken full legal possession of the seventeen-million-dollar lake estate and taken over leadership of Sterling Construction.

I had chosen to carry out Walter’s trust exactly as written, securing the firm’s assets while clearing away every fraudulent debt.

Victoria and Chloe had moved into a modest two-bedroom apartment in town, and Brandon had surrendered his license to avoid prosecution.