Chapter 10: A Letter from the Past
Six months into her tenure, a thick, cream-colored envelope arrived at Valerie's quarters. The return address bore the embossed crest of her father's estate. Inside was a formal invitation to a corporate charity gala, accompanied by a brief, handwritten note from Richard: “It is time to put the past behind us. We expect your attendance.”
There was no apology. There was no acknowledgment of the humiliation he and Caroline had orchestrated. It was simply an expectation of her compliance to maintain his pristine public image.
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Valerie read the note once. A year ago, the heavy, manipulative demand would have caused a spike of anxiety. Now, she felt absolutely nothing but a quiet, absolute sense of closure. She didn't draft an angry response or harbor any bitterness. She simply dropped the invitation into the shredder.
Walking over to her window, she watched the midshipmen running formations in the evening light. She realized she had already found her true family, and they were right outside her door.
