Two days later, Detective Martinez called. Veronica was now being investigated for evidence tampering and filing a false police report. That night, Johnson’s lawyer called. “Veronica’s disappeared.”
Johnson hired 24-hour security. The next morning, at 6 a.m., Dr. Peterson called. “Someone tried to access Clara’s room last night. A woman matching Veronica’s description. She got away.”
“She’s stable enough for outpatient treatment,” Dr. Peterson said. “She’d be safer at your home.”
Within hours, Clara was discharged. Mary was ecstatic. “Mom! You’re home!” They settled Clara into a guest room Johnson had converted, complete with a hospital bed.
A week later, a package arrived. A letter from Veronica. You’ve destroyed everything… You think you’ve won, but this isn’t over. Johnson called the detective.
The next morning, another 6 a.m. call from Detective Martinez. “We’ve located Veronica. Emergency room. Apparent overdose. She’s stable… and she’s asking to see you. She says she has information.”
Johnson went. Veronica, pale and defeated in a hospital bed, confessed everything. Including the final, sickening detail. “I… I arranged the marriage. I paid Daniel Morrison fifteen thousand dollars to marry Clara. To make it look like she’d moved on, like the baby was his. I thought… I thought it would make you give up on her forever.”
And one more thing. “He’s in Seattle. I called him. Told him about Mary… I thought maybe if he showed up claiming to be Mary’s father…”
Johnson left, his blood cold. That evening, Daniel Morrison called. “I’m standing outside your building. Come down, or I tell the world how you stole my wife and daughter.”
Johnson went down. Daniel smiled. “Veronica paid me five million dollars to destroy your family. She’s gone, but you have more. Pay me ten million, and I disappear.”
Johnson looked at the man’s desperate eyes. “Here’s my counteroffer. You get nothing. Or I have you arrested for extortion. Veronica confessed everything. You’re an accomplice to fraud.”
Daniel’s face crumpled. “You don’t understand! I have debts! These people will kill me!”
“How much?”
“Three hundred thousand.”
“I’ll give you two hundred thousand,” Johnson said. “You sign legal documents relinquishing all claims to Mary and Clara. You testify against Veronica. And you leave Seattle tonight.”
Daniel frantically agreed. By midnight, it was done.
“You paid him?” Clara asked when he returned.
“It was worth it,” Johnson said, pulling her close. “To protect you and Mary. It’s over, Clara. It’s finally over.”
Three months later, Johnson watched the sunrise. He heard laughter from the kitchen. Clara, her hair growing back in soft curls, her cheeks full and healthy, was flipping pancakes. Her cancer was in complete remission.
“Dad! Breakfast!” Mary called, dressed in her new private school uniform. “You’re supposed to be resting,” Johnson chided Clara.
“I’ve been resting for three months,” she smiled, that same smile he’d fallen in love with. “Besides, you burn toast.”
Later, after Mary went to do homework, Clara turned to him. “Johnson… I’m getting better. Mary and I… we should probably find our own place soon.”
“No.” He took her hands. “Do you want to leave?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Then stay. Permanently. Clara, I love you. I never stopped.”
“You love me?”
“Always.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, too! I never stopped!”
“Are you guys kissing?” Mary grinned from the doorway. “I’ve been waiting for this forever!”
That evening, Johnson told Clara that Veronica had accepted a plea deal. Eight years. “Poetic justice,” Clara said softly. “The same amount of time she stole from us.”
“You said… you weren’t asking me to marry you yet,” Clara said, her eyes sparkling. “When will you ask?”
Johnson smiled. “Are you rushing me, Ms. Carter?”
“I’ve waited nine years, Johnson Williams. I’ve been patient enough.”
“Six months. I’m going to do it right this time.”
Six months later, they were married in a small garden overlooking the water. Mary, as the flower girl, beamed. Clara was radiant, healthy, and strong.
At the reception, as the sun set, Johnson watched his wife and daughter dancing. “Happy?” he asked Clara.
“Happier than I ever thought possible,” she said, tears in her eyes. “A year ago, I thought I was dying. Now… I have everything.”
“We have everything,” Johnson corrected.
“Dad! Mom!” Mary ran up, breathless. “They’re about to cut the cake! Come on!”
She grabbed both their hands and pulled them toward the lights. Johnson and Clara smiled at each other over their daughter’s head. He thought about the wrinkled envelope that had started it all. The letter had been the key, but love had opened the door. And now, finally, they were a family.
