Chapter 296. Shadows and Streetlights

"Thank you for everything, Carter,” Lara says softly. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

Carter waves off her thanks with a small smile. “Just be careful, alright? And remember—you’re not alone in this.”

Lara nods, the weight of his words settling over her like a protective shield. With one final look, she steps out into the night, ready to face whatever awaits her.

As she drives away, the lights of the city twinkle in the distance, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She doesn’t know what the future holds, but she knows one thing for sure: she’s ready to face it. For her children, for her family’s legacy, and for herself. She knows it’s not going to be easy, but then again, it never has been.

With that thought, Lara presses down on the accelerator, leaving behind the darkness of the past and driving toward whatever light the future might bring. The streetlights blur into streaks of luminescence as her car roars through the quiet