Chapter 6 - The Safe House and the Gathering Allies
Back at the hospital, Lily was discharged by early afternoon with a clean bill of health, provided she rested at home for the next week. But "home" was no longer the house in Ohio.
David Vance had arranged for us to stay at a secure, private residential property owned by his firm—a quiet, sunlit townhouse overlooking the lake on the outskirts of the city. As our car pulled into the driveway, I looked out at the peaceful water and felt the first true breath of relief in days.
Lily curled up on the plush living room sofa, watching her favorite cartoon while clutching a new stuffed bear David had bought for her.
"You did good, Clara," David said softly, handing me a cup of herbal tea as we sat at the kitchen island. "The asset freeze held. Mark tried to withdraw fifty thousand dollars from the primary business account an hour ago to pay his personal defense attorney, and the bank flagged it instantly. He's officially locked out of every financial lifeline he thought he had."
I took a sip of the tea, feeling the warmth spread through my chest. "And Carol?"
David smirked. "Carol is currently attempting to contact half the county judges she thinks she knows from her charity boards. None of them are returning her calls. When people realize a sinking ship is full of holes, they run away, Clara. And Mark and Carol are sitting right at the bottom of the hull."
Just then, the front door opened, and a familiar figure walked into the kitchen carrying grocery bags.
It was Sarah, my former college roommate and my closest friend, whom I hadn't seen in two years because Mark and Carol had actively discouraged our friendship, calling her "too loud and career-obsessed."
When Sarah saw me, she dropped the bags on the counter and rushed over, pulling me into a fierce, suffocating hug.
"I heard everything," Sarah whispered into my hair, her voice thick with emotion. "When David called me this morning and told me what Mark did... Clara, I am so sorry I wasn't there. I'm so proud of you for walking out."
I hugged her back tightly, letting out a shaky laugh. "I'm just glad Lily is safe."
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"She's safe, and you're safe," Sarah said, pulling back and looking at my face. She gently traced the fading bruise on my cheek with her thumb, her eyes flashing with fury. "Mark is going to pay for this. Every single bit of it."
"He already is," David added calmly, checking his tablet. "And tomorrow, we take the next step. The deposition begins."
