Chapter 16 - Uninvited Guests
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Three days later, the sun was shining brightly over my suburban home.
The digital records were restored, Richard Sterling was facing forty years in federal prison, and Carter Defense Systems was undergoing a complete corporate restructuring overseen by an independent ethics board.
I was in the front yard, helping Liam plant red tulips along the walkway, when a black Lincoln Town Car pulled up to the curb.
The doors opened slowly.
My father stepped out first, wearing a plain grey suit, looking significantly thinner and aged. Following him was my mother, holding a large bouquet of yellow roses, her eyes swollen and red from crying.
Liam stopped digging, clutching his tiny plastic shovel as he looked at them nervously. "Mommy... it's Grandma and Grandpa."
"Stay here, baby," I whispered, wiping dirt from my hands as I stood up to face them.
My parents walked up the driveway with hesitant, timid steps—a stark contrast to the arrogant aristocrats who had ordered me thrown out of the ballroom weeks ago.
"Emily," my father began, his voice raspy and choked with emotion. "We... we read the news about Richard Sterling. We saw the press release from the Department of Defense."
My mother stepped forward, offering the bouquet of roses with shaking hands. "Emily, sweetheart... we were so wrong. Richard manipulated us, Madison lied to us... we had no idea—"
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"Stop," I said firmly, holding up my hand.
My mother froze, tears spilling down her cheeks.
