Chapter 19 - A House Becomes a Home
Six months passed, and the Vance estate transformed.
The echoing, silent halls were now filled with life. Lily's laughter rang through the corridors as she chased the new golden retriever puppy Eleanor had adopted for her. She was thriving in a private academy, her natural brilliance shining through now that she no longer had to worry about her next meal.
Sarah had changed, too. The exhaustion had faded from her eyes, replaced by a sharp, determined light. She had moved into the east wing of the house and, with Eleanor's fierce encouragement, had enrolled in the local university's pre-law program.
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"You spent three years reading legal statutes to save your sister," Eleanor had told her one afternoon. "Imagine what you could do for other families if you had a degree."
One evening, Eleanor stood in the doorway of the grand parlor, watching Sarah help Lily with her math homework on the floor. They were arguing playfully, tossing throw pillows at each other. Eleanor leaned against the doorframe, a profound sense of peace washing over her. Her empire of glass and steel in the city suddenly meant very little compared to the warmth of this room.
