My eight-month-old triplets had been screaming for two hours when I finally realized something terrifying:

Spring returned to Lake Forest four months later.

The historic oak trees surrounding the Moretti estate were blooming with fresh green leaves, and the warm sunlight washed over the blooming gardens, chasing away the cold ghosts of the winter.

The M.E.S. stock had rebounded to an all-time high after the public liquidation of Carter Hill and the Vance Syndicate assets.

Inside the mansion, the heavy steel shutters had been removed, replaced by custom bulletproof glass windows that allowed the bright, golden daylight to fill every corner of the house.

On a warm Saturday afternoon, the grand garden lawn was filled with music, laughter, and the soft sound of water splashing in the central stone fountain.

Maya was sitting on a teak garden bench, laughing as she watched her daughter, five-year-old Sophie, running across the grass.

Sophie was wearing a yellow sundress, her dark hair tied back with a ribbon, holding her handmade rag doll in one hand and a small wooden windmill in the other.

Near the fountain, three large blanket playpens were set up under the shade of an old maple tree.

Inside the playpen were Theo, Miles, and Nora.

They were a year old now. Healthy, chubby, and laughing happily as they pulled themselves up against the wooden rails, their bright blue eyes shining with life and joy.

I sat on the edge of the blanket, wearing a simple white linen shirt and dark trousers, holding a wooden toy block tower that Theo was enthusiastically knocking down with a loud giggle.

"Boom!" Theo babbled, clapping his small hands together.

"Boom indeed, little man," I smiled, pulling him into my lap and kissing his chubby cheek.

Sophie ran over to the blanket, dropping down onto her knees beside us. She set her rag doll gently beside Nora, who immediately grabbed the doll’s arm and began chewing on it happily.

"Uncle Adrien?" Sophie asked, looking up at me with her clear, intelligent dark eyes.

"Yes, sweetheart?" I asked, resting my arm over my knee.

"The angry clicking sound is completely gone now," she said softly, a bright, beautiful smile spreading across her face.

I pulled Sophie into a warm side-hug, pressing a kiss against her head.

"It's never coming back, Sophie," I promised her, my voice thick with a profound, peaceful emotion. "Thanks to you."

Marcus walked across the lawn, dressed in a comfortable casual jacket, holding a leather folder under his arm. He stopped beside the playpen, looking down at the playing children with a rare, genuine smile.

"All clear, boss," Marcus reported quietly. "The federal court signed the final asset seizure papers today. The Vance Syndicate’s holdings have been completely dissolved. Elena and Carter were sentenced to life without parole this morning."

"Good," I nodded, looking out over the quiet, peaceful grounds of my home. "No appeals?"

"None," Marcus replied. "They'll never see the outside of a federal pen again."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with profound respect. "What are your orders for the security detail this summer, Mr. Moretti?"

I looked down at Theo, who was currently trying to climb onto my boot, while Miles and Nora played with Sophie's wooden toys.

"Reduce the perimeter guards by half, Marcus," I said softly.