Chapter 10 - UnbreakableThe evening sun was setting over the Ridgefield estate, painting the sky in deep shades of gold, purple, and crimson.

The grand backyard was filled with laughter, music, and the delicious aroma of a family barbecue. Jax and Leo were arguing playfully over who was the better pitmaster at the outdoor grill, while Ethan demonstrated a new magic trick for Maya, making silver coins vanish into thin air.
Gabriel sat on the outdoor sofa, reading a book, while Julian stood at the edge of the stone terrace, holding a glass of sparkling water, looking out over the valley.
I walked out onto the terrace, holding two glasses of lemonade, handing one to my eldest brother.
"A penny for your thoughts, Julian," I said, leaning against the stone balustrade beside him.
Julian took the glass, smiling down at me. "I was just thinking about the night you called me on that satellite phone."
"I was terrified that night," I admitted softly, watching Maya laugh as Jax picked her up and swung her in a circle. "I thought my life was over."
"Your life wasn't over, Sarah," Julian said, his voice deep and full of quiet pride. "It was just beginning. You gave Marcus nine years of grace, and he threw it away. You built this new life with your own hands."
"I couldn't have done it without you five," I said, looking into his eyes. "You came like an avalanche."
"We're Vances," Julian chuckled, wrapping his massive arm around my shoulders and pulling me tight against his side. "An avalanche is our standard response when anyone touches our sister."
My father walked out onto the terrace, holding Maya's hand. She ran over to me, jumping into my arms, hugging me tightly around the neck.
"Mommy," Maya whispered softly into my ear. "Are we going to live here forever?"
I looked around at the warm lights shining from the house, at the beautiful gardens, at my brothers who stood like indestructible pillars around us, and at my father whose eyes were filled with peace.
May you like
The fear, the isolation, and the pain of the past were completely gone, burned away by the light of a new dawn.
"Yes, baby," I whispered back, kissing her cheek as the stars began to twinkle in the clear night sky. "We're home forever."