Chapter 9 - The Last Settlement
Three days later, Elena visited the County Correctional Facility.
She walked into the visitation room wearing a sharp dark suit, her hair held in its immaculate bun, the silver locket resting over her lapel. She sat down behind the clear glass partition.
A moment later, Victoria Vale was led into the booth by two guards. Victoria wore a faded orange jumpsuit; her nails were short and chipped, her face pale and hollow.
Victoria picked up the phone receiver with trembling hands. "Did you come here to laugh at me?" she rasped through the glass.
Elena picked up her receiver, her expression entirely serene. "No, Victoria. I came to return something."
Elena slid a small envelope through the document slot beneath the partition. Inside was a receipt showing full payment of Victoria’s remaining personal debts, along with a deed transferring her seized emerald collection into an educational scholarship fund for foster children.
Victoria stared at the paper in shock. "Why... why would you do this?"
"Because unlike you, I do not believe in cruelty," Elena said softly. "You thought my uniform defined my worth. You thought having money gave you the right to strip away another person's dignity. I wanted you to see that true power is not something you buy. It is something you carry inside you."
Victoria lowered her head, tears finally overflowing her eyes and dripping onto her jumpsuit. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I'm so sorry, Elena..."
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Elena placed her hand gently against the glass for a brief second. "I forgive you, Victoria. But you still have to pay your debt to society."
Elena set the receiver down, stood up, and walked out of the prison into the bright morning sunlight.
