Daphne POV

“Every story ends, but not every scar fades.”

The phrase resonated in the quiet office. The city outside wasn't roaring; it was humming a low, steady pulse that spoke of routine and healing, not ruin.

A week had passed since the final verdict, and the media storm had moved on to the next scandal. The world, I discovered, had a mercifully short attention span.

Xavier was sitting opposite me at the enormous conference table in what was now the Black-Vale headquarters.

We weren't ...