She looked at the boys, and a faint, beautiful smile appeared on her lips.

“My babies,” she whispered, her voice dry and raspy.

She reached out her hand, her fingers trembling.

Owen stepped forward and placed his small hand in hers.

“We are here, Claire,” Owen said.

I watched them, the tears burning in my eyes.

“We found the contract, Claire,” I said softly.

“It’s over.”

“Vance can’t hurt you anymore,” I said.

She looked up at me, her eyes wet with tears.

“He… he told me I would lose them forever,” she whispered.

“He lied,” I said.

“You are their mother.”

“No one is taking them from you again,” I said.

She squeezed Owen’s hand, then closed her eyes, a single tear escaping down her cheek.

“Thank you, Daniel,” she breathed.

I stood there, holding her other hand, feeling a strange new warmth in my chest.

The storm was finally passing.

But just as I felt a moment of peace, the door behind us clicked open.

A tall man in a dark suit stood in the doorway.