Exactly one year later, the dark memories of Paradise Valley have been replaced by the bright sunshine of a secure coastal compound in Carmel by the Sea. I now share this sprawling, heavily guarded estate with my brothers, managing the philanthropic branch of Xavier’s financial empire with confidence and peace.

Paisley has completely healed from the trauma of that night, and she spends her afternoons laughing and swimming in the pool with her protective uncles. Alistair is currently serving a thirty year sentence in a maximum security federal penitentiary, living in constant fear and total isolation.

My attorney recently forwarded me a desperate letter from him, filled with pathetic apologies and pleas for a single phone call. I did not bother to open the envelope or read his manipulative words, choosing instead to toss it into the outdoor fire pit. As I watched the paper turn into gray ash,

I realized that true monsters only thrive when their victims remain isolated. I finally understand that my powerful bloodline is not a burden to escape, but the ultimate armor required to protect my child.