Chapter 12 - The Phoenix Protocol
With Marcus Vance and his co-conspirators sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, the frozen assets of the Vance estate were ordered by the High Court to be liquidated and transferred into an independent medical foundation.
Six months after the fire, the corner of Oak Street looked completely different.
The scorched remains of Le Jardin had been cleared away, replaced by a modern, sunlit glass-and-steel building bearing a silver plaque near the entrance: THE ELEANOR VANCE MEMORIAL RESEARCH CENTER.
Standing on the newly paved sidewalk, Clara wore a tailored navy suit, her dark brown hair tied back neatly. Beside her stood Lily, dressed in a bright blue summer dress, her blonde hair glowing under the afternoon sun.
May you like
"Do you miss the roses?" Lily asked, holding Clara’s hand as they watched staff members move medical equipment through the glass doors.
Clara smiled, reaching down to adjust a small red rose pin attached to her lapel. "No, sweetheart. Roses wither when they're kept in the dark. We brought everything out into the light."
