Chapter 4: The Departure of Shadows
Outside the estate gates, a black sedan waited with its engine idling. Rain had begun to fall, slicking the long gravel driveway.
Victoria stood beside her packed suitcases, her luxury designer coat soaked through, her polished exterior completely shattered. She looked back at the grand stone mansion, its warm windows glowing like a sanctuary she was now banished from forever.
Dominic stood at the top of the grand entrance steps, flanked by security personnel. He made no move to approach her.
"The police have already received digital copies of the financial records," Dominic spoke across the courtyard, his voice carrying over the sound of rain falling on leaves. "If you ever step foot near this property or approach Clara again, you will not wait for a trial from the comfort of a hotel room."
Victoria’s lips trembled in rage and desperation. "You think you're noble, Dominic? You're just as cold as your brother!"
"My brother had a heart large enough to be exploited by someone like you," Dominic said coldly. "I do not."
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Without another word, Victoria turned and threw herself into the back seat of the sedan. The vehicle accelerated down the driveway, its red taillights disappearing into the thick coastal fog, taking the darkness of the past year with it.
Dominic turned back inside, shutting the heavy oak doors behind him. For the first time since his brother’s death, the air inside the house felt clean.
