Chapter 8 - Returning to the Estate
By late afternoon, the black convoy returned through the wrought-iron gates of the Hale estate. The grounds looked peaceful, the manicured lawns gleaming under the fresh rain, free of the dark cloud that had choked the property for nearly a year.
Roman stepped out of the vehicle and walked up the grand stone steps to the front entrance.
Inside the foyer, the house was quiet. The afternoon light streamed through the tall stained-glass windows, casting warm amber and blue patterns across the marble floor.
From the top of the grand staircase, soft footsteps echoed.
Lily appeared, holding the battered, cream-colored teddy bear tightly against her chest. The clumsy stitches Emma had sewn into its head stood out clearly, a permanent badge of honor for the toy.
"Daddy?" Lily called out softly, descending the stairs one step at a time.
Roman met her at the bottom landing, dropping to one knee just as he had the day before.
"Hey, bug," Roman said, a genuine, gentle smile breaking across his face for the first time in eleven months.
Lily threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. "Are the bad people gone?"
"Yes, sweetheart," Roman murmured, holding his daughter close. "They're gone. And they're never coming back."
Hannah Reed stepped out from the hallway carrying a tray of fresh tea, stopping a polite distance away to give them space. She offered a warm, reassuring smile.
"Would you like me to draw a bath for her, Mr. Hale?" Hannah asked quietly.
Roman looked up at Hannah, feeling a profound sense of gratitude. For a year, his house had been a gilded cage run by a traitor. Now, with Hannah and Emma here, it was starting to feel like a home again.
"No, Hannah," Roman said, standing up while keeping Lily securely in his arms. "Let's take a break. We're all going to have dinner together in the kitchen tonight."
Lily’s eyes widened with delight. "In the kitchen? Can Emma have ice cream?"
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"If your mother—if Hannah says it's alright," Roman smiled, catching himself smoothly.
Hannah laughed softly, a bright, musical sound that filled the grand hallway with warmth. "I suppose one exception can be made for a master bear surgeon."
