An hour later, the grand ballroom was quiet and empty, the bright chandeliers casting a soft light over the white marble floors.
David sat on the wide velvet sofa near the tall windows, holding a warm cup of chamomile tea while Lily rested her head on his lap.
The small piece of dry bread had been replaced by a warm bowl of soup and fresh cookies provided by the estate caterers.
Lily: Daddy... is Grandma ever coming back to this house?
David: No, my sweet girl. Grandma is never coming back here.
Lily: Are we going to stay here all by ourselves?
David: We are going to live here peacefully, Lily. Just you and me.
Lily: And we can play in the garden whenever we want?
David: Whenever you want, baby. The whole house belongs to you.
Lily smiled softly, taking a bite of her chocolate chip cookie as her small body finally relaxed.
Lily: I love you, Daddy.
David: I love you more than life itself, Lily. I will always protect you.
David gently stroked her hair, kissing her forehead as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep in his arms.
Outside the tall glass windows, the bright moonlight illuminated the manicured lawns of the Sterling estate.
The dark storm of greed, cruelty, and deception that had hung over the family was gone forever.
Evelyn was heading to a prison cell, stripped of her status, her stolen fortune, and her control over the family name.
And as David held his daughter close, he knew that Sarah's memory was finally honored, justice was served, and their home was filled with love at last.