Chapter 5: The Project That Was Worth Fighting For
Three days later, Victoria stood before the city council, flanked by Silas and her team. The vote was unanimous: the affordable housing and community center she’d fought for would be built on the land Evelyn had tried to hoard for a private golf course.
Reporters crowded the steps afterward. “Ms. Harrington—did you ever think walking away would be easier?”
Victoria looked down at Lily, holding her hand tight. “I thought about it. But then I remembered—if I walked away, who would speak for the people she calls ‘trash’? The kids who get shushed? The families who get pushed out?”
That weekend, they broke ground at the site. Lily was given the honor of turning the first shovel of dirt. When cameras flashed, she didn’t shrink back. She lifted her chin, smiled, and waved.
Silas leaned over to Victoria. “You know… she’s exactly the kind of person this place was built for. Brave. Kind. And impossible to push down.”
Just then, Victoria’s phone rang. Her lawyer.
“Victoria? Evelyn’s out on bail. And she’s filed a lawsuit—against you, Silas, and the estate. She says you conspired to ruin her name.”
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