Three months passed before the warm sun of early summer shone brightly over the wide green estate.
The dark stone patio behind the mansion had been scrubbed clean until every surface shone like glass.
Elena sat at a polished wooden table on the sunny patio, drinking fresh lemon tea in peace.
She wore a yellow cotton dress, and her pale face looked full of healthy energy and joy.
Mark walked out through the open glass doors carrying a tray of warm blueberry scones for breakfast.
Mark: The bank just finalized the entire trust transfer, and the estate is officially all yours now.
Elena: I still wake up every morning thinking I have to hurry and scrub the floors clean.
Mark: You are the owner here now, so the only thing you have to do is enjoy life.
Elena smiled softly as she took a hot blueberry scone from the silver tray on the table.
She remembered the cold dark night when she stood weeping over the heavy metal vat of syrup.
It felt like a bad dream that belonged to someone else long ago in another dark world.
Elena: What happened to Victoria after the court hearing ended last week in town?
Mark: She was ordered to pay back every dollar she took from mom's private inheritance account.
Mark: She had to sell her expensive luxury cars just to cover her legal fees and debts.
Elena nodded slowly, feeling no hatred or anger left inside her heart toward the woman anymore.
Justice had been served fairly, and truth had finally won over greed and cruel social pride.
She looked around at the green trees and blue sky surrounding her new home on the hill.
She knew that her mother was watching down on them both with love and peace today.
Mark sat down across from his sister, and they raised their teacups together in a warm toast.
Elena: To family, to truth, and to the bright future we are going to build together!
Mark: To family always, my brave little sister, because nothing in this world is more important!