Chapter 15: The Unbroken Horizon
The first snow of the season fell gently over Oakridge Estates on a quiet Saturday morning, dusting the rooftops and newly reinforced stone foundations in a blanket of pristine white. The corporate scandal that had shaken the community to its core was now a distant memory, replaced by ongoing federal remediation hearings and the quiet, steady work of neighborhood renewal. Apex Holdings had been liquidated, its assets seized to pay for the environmental cleanup, and the local officials who had facilitated the fraud were awaiting trial in federal court.
Clara stood on her front porch, watching the delicate snowflakes drift down through the cold air. Her patterned blouse was visible beneath an open winter coat, and her blonde hair was gathered neatly back from her face. The
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