#Chapter 562: The Rise & The Fall

Olivia The air coming through the open windows smelled like the fresh sea breeze as we made our way from room to room, touring every nook and cranny of the newly completed cottage. It was perfect—cozy and quaint, while still boasting all the modern amenities one could want. But more than that, it was a sanctuary, a haven. A fresh start. Trailing slightly behind Nathan and my mother, I couldn’t help but soak in the look of sheer wonder on Clarissa’s face as she took it all in. This was her space now, her private retreat just a stone’s throw from the main house, close enough to never feel cut off from her rediscovered family and yet still affording a sense of independence. She deserved it. And after everything she had been through, all I could hope for was her happiness. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured, pausing in the archway that led to the small but airy kitchen. Her fingers traced along the granite countertops as tears glistened in her eyes. “All of it... I can’t even be