Chapter 16 - WHAT SURVIVEDMonths passed.
Blackwood Industries was rebuilt.
The corrupt board was removed.
The company's illegal operations were dismantled.
Evelyn refused the title of CEO.
Instead, she created a foundation in Marcus's name.
Marcus survived.
His injuries healed slowly.
So did their relationship.
There were apologies.
Arguments.
Long silences.
And eventually, forgiveness.
One afternoon, Marcus found Evelyn sitting beside Lily in a park.
Lily was drawing.
“What are you drawing?” Marcus asked.
She turned the paper around.
Three people stood beneath a blue sky.
Marcus.
Evelyn.
Lily.
For the first time, the third figure had a face.
Marcus smiled.
“That's beautiful.”
Lily nodded.
“It means we're safe now.”
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
Neither of them said anything.
They both knew better than to believe life would ever be completely safe.
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But they had something they hadn't had before.
A future.
