Chapter 18 - THOMAS STANDS

Thomas’s surgery happened three weeks later.

Emma waited with Lily. Vincent stayed away because Emma said this belonged to family.

Six hours later, the surgeon said the procedure had gone well. Recovery would be long, but Thomas might walk again with therapy.

Thomas began rehabilitation in January.

“Again,” the therapist said.

“I already stood up.”

“Do it again.”

“This is harassment.”

Emma laughed.

“You raised me.”

“Exactly. I’ve suffered enough.”

The trust Carlo left him became public during court proceedings.

Thomas sold most of the Marshall Crown shares.

He used part of the money to pay medical debt.

Part to fund Lily’s tuition.

And most to create a worker-safety legal fund.

Emma told him he could retire. Thomas said he was tired enough to qualify.

Isabella donated the first matching million.

The fund supported workers injured after reporting unsafe conditions; Thomas refused to put his own name on it.

“Put Rachel’s name on the scholarship branch.”

So the Rachel Carter Scholarship paid tuition for children of injured workers.

Lily became its first volunteer.

Emma kept working for the Moretti Foundation.

Not as a waitress.

Not as anyone’s charity case.

Within a year, she became operations director.

At an anniversary dinner, Isabella raised a glass to Emma despite her protests.

Isabella smiled.

“The first time I met her, she thought I was powerless.”

Emma shook her head.

“No. I thought you were in danger.”

“Exactly.”

Isabella looked around the room.

“She did not ask whether I was important enough to defend.”

Then Isabella added:

“That is why she was.”

After dinner, Vincent found Emma near the service hallway.

“The first place we met.”

“The first place I nearly lost my job.”

“You upgraded.”

“So did you.”

He held out a hand.

“Walk?”

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Emma took it.

Just two people leaving through the same service corridor everyone else ignored.