Daniel had tried to contact her many times. She never replied. The Kingstons’ empire had quietly collapsed under scandal and debt. But she felt no satisfaction in that—only indifference.
She raised her glass to the stars.
“Thank you, Dad,” she whispered. “Merry Christmas.”
Children’s laughter called her back to the table. Isabella smiled and walked toward the light.
Because the real gift had never been the fortune. It was discovering that even when the world treats you as nothing, you can still be someone’s everything. And dignity isn’t something anyone can sign away—it lives inside you, waiting for you to step out of the dark.
