“We will draft the co-guardianship papers.”

“You will have equal say in Ethan’s upbringing, his education, and his security.”

“You will no longer be an employee of this house, Elena.”

I looked at him, trying to process his words.

“I don’t know what to say, sir,” I said.

“Say you will accept,” he said.

“Ethan needs you.”

“I need you.”

The room was silent save for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

The brass pendulum swung back and forth, marking the seconds.

“I accept,” I said.

Alexander let out a long breath, his shoulders dropping.

“Thank you, Elena,” he said.

“Go get some sleep.”

“We have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

I nodded and turned to leave the library.

As I walked down the hall, the quiet of the estate felt different.

It was no longer the heavy, suffocating silence of a house under siege.

It felt like a house that was finally starting to breathe again.

I climbed the grand staircase, my hand sliding along the polished oak banister.

I walked past the dark portraits of the Hawthorne ancestors.