Chapter 29 - The Last Vance Secret
Richard Sterling was charged with enough crimes to keep prosecutors busy for years.
Claire testified.
Ruth testified.
Pierce took a deal.
Margaret cooperated to protect Andrew.
Andrew testified against Richard and his mother.
The empire collapsed.
But one final secret remained.
The second ledger contained a property deed.
A building in downtown Chicago.
Worth millions.
Purchased through stolen money.
The legal process took months.
Eventually, the court ordered the property sold and the proceeds distributed among victims.
Marigold Foundation received a substantial settlement.
I didn't celebrate.
Not immediately.
Because money wasn't justice.
But money could become shelter.
Lawyers.
Therapy.
Childcare.
Transportation.
Locked doors that only survivors controlled.
We turned their stolen wealth into exits for other women.
One afternoon, Claire visited Chicago.
She stood beside me outside the rebuilt Marigold building.
“You really did it,” she said.
“We did.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Then she smiled.
“You finished it.”
I looked at the marigolds growing beside the entrance.
“No.”
“What?”
“We started something.”
She laughed.
May you like
I liked that sound.
So did I.
