Chapter 10 - The Future Belongs to Us
Two weeks later, the morning sun broke brightly over the Chicago river.
I stood on the glass balcony of Vanguard Holdings' international headquarters, holding a hot cup of coffee. Below me, the city was alive with energy—boats navigating the river, traffic moving steadily along the avenues, and thousands of people going about their days.
In my hand, I held a physical newspaper. The front page of the business section featured a large photograph of me standing on the steps of the estate, flanked by my three sons in their velvet tuxedos.
The headline read: THE NEW QUEEN OF MIDWEST BUSINESS: HOW VICTORIA VANCE BUILT AN EMPIRE AND RECLAIMED HER FAMILY'S DESTINY.
The door to my private office opened, and my head of security, Marcus, stepped inside.
"Ms. Vance," Marcus said respectfully. "Ethan Montgomery is downstairs in the lobby. He's asking for ten minutes of your time. He says he signed the buyout agreement."
I took a slow sip of my coffee, feeling the warm liquid settle comfortably inside me.
"Did he come alone?" I asked.
"Yes, ma'am. His mother tried to stop him, but he left her at their temporary residence. He seems... sober. Quiet."
I considered this for a moment. Ethan was weak, but he wasn't irredeemable. If he was truly willing to separate himself from Eleanor’s toxic influence and take accountability for his past actions, I would not deny my sons the opportunity to know him on safe, controlled terms.
"Tell him he can have five minutes," I instructed Marcus. "Have him meet me in the conference room on the legal floor. And make sure our attorneys are present."
"Yes, Ms. Vance." Marcus nodded and turned to leave.
"Mama! Look what we made!"
The laughter of three little boys filled the corridor as Liam, Noah, and Caleb came running into my office, accompanied by their nanny. They were carrying a massive cardboard model of a skyscraper, covered in bright paint, glitter, and colorful stickers.
"It's Vanguard Tower Two!" Caleb announced proudly, holding up his side of the cardboard structure. "We built it for your new office!"
I set my coffee cup down on the glass desk and dropped to my knees, wrapping my arms around all three of my sons at once. They smelled like warm sunshine, baby shampoo, and pure joy.
"It's the most beautiful building I've ever seen," I said, kissing each of their foreheads in turn.
"Are we going to be bosses like you when we grow up, Mama?" Noah asked, looking up at me with wide, expectant gray eyes.
"You can be whatever you want to be, my loves," I whispered, holding them tight against my heart. "Because this world doesn't belong to old traditions, old money, or cold dynasties. It belongs to those who build it with courage, love, and fire."
May you like
Liam smiled, his sharp little face lighting up with absolute certainty. "Then we're going to build it with you, Mama."
I looked out through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the grand skyline of Chicago, feeling the warmth of the sun bathing my skin. The past was finally where it belonged—behind us. The future was ours, and it was boundless.
