Picture Perfect - Page 181

“Anything, Addy.”

“I need you to be the one to watch this. Please. No one else. The boys, they don’t need to see what’s on here unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

He nods, his face etched with solemnity. “Of course, Addy,” he replies, taking the card and tucking it safely into his inner jacket pocket.

“It’s…bad Mason. I’d rather it be you, please, and not one of your employees.”

“I’ll handle it personally.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, the tension seeping from my shoulders. With Mason on it, I feel a flicker of hope that justice might finally be served.

??????

The stillness of the night wraps around me like a shroud as I tiptoe down the grand staircase, seeking the solace of a cold glass of water. The house is quiet, save for the occasional creak of wood that speaks of its age and the stories it holds.

The light spilling from the half-open door of Mason’s office catches my eye, and curiosity nudges me closer. I peek inside, finding him sitting there, a solitary figure with a glass of whiskey cradled in his hand. His gaze is distant, lost in thoughts that seem to weigh heavily on him.

“Hey,” I whisper, not wanting to startle him. “Is everything okay?”

Mason looks up, and there’s a weariness in his eyes that makes my chest tighten. “It’s done, Addy.” His voice is rough, like gravel and heartache. “They won’t be able to wriggle out of it this time.”

A surge of emotions wells up within me—relief, gratitude, sorrow—and suddenly, I’m crossing the room, wrapping my arms around him in a fierce embrace. He returns the hug just as tightly, and we stand there, two people bound by a shared battle against demons of the past.

“They’re… they’re fucking monsters. I am so sorry. So sorry you had to go through this, Adelaide. I promise you that no matter what happens, you will always have my protection. You will never, never—” his voice breaks with barely restrained emotion, “—have to suffer again.

We cry together, the kind of tears that cleanse and heal, the kind that mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It’s a moment of release, of letting go of the anguish that has haunted us both.

“I couldn’t have done this without you,” I manage to say between sobs.

“Always, Addy,” Mason replies, his voice steady even as his own tears soak into my hair. “Always.”

Chapter seventy-seven

Addy

Epilogue #1

It’s strange how someone who was once a stranger has become my sanctuary. Three someones. Well, five. Gen and Mason became family just as much as the boys.

Not so long ago, mornings were a thing of dread, a countdown to another day of walking on eggshells. But now, safety isn’t just a fleeting dream—it’s my reality.

I can hardly believe this peace is mine—that I’ve found safety, security, and true happiness without waiting for my eighteenth birthday. That nightmare, which once bound me with invisible chains, feels like a distant memory now.

A chill runs down my spine, not from the cool air of the room but from the ghost of memories I’d rather leave behind. My fingers brush against the pendant around my neck, a habit when my thoughts turn dark. It had been a gift from the boys—my boys—to celebrate how far I’d come. A snowflake, of course.

It’s surreal how much has changed since I handed over the evidence to Mason. The legal gears turned with astonishing speed once the truth came out.

William had no choice but to plead guilty on all charges. The list was as long as the trials were public—corruption, abuse, you name it. His fall from grace became a media circus. Mason did his damndest to make sure the reporters couldn’t hound me like I was the next big scandal.

Cheryl… Cheryl managed to escape. She’s out there somewhere, likely plotting her next move, but the fear she once inspired has dissipated. Without the political and financial backing of the Winthrop name, there’s nothing she can do to get to me. Mason’s promise to keep me protected wasn’t empty; he’s been my steadfast shield against the chaos. And for the first time in forever, I feel untouchable.

I had been right about Primal Meats.

It was worse, so much worse than anyone suspected—a high-end sex trafficking ring hidden beneath a veneer of legitimacy.

We fought hard to bring it all to light, but the evidence… the evidence was slippery, like trying to hold onto smoke. But Mason wasn’t giving up. He vowed to keep digging, to keep fighting until Primal Meats was nothing but a nightmare of the past.

I hug myself, feeling the weight of what could have been. The deal they struck behind closed doors, trading me like I was just another item on their inventory list—I was sold through Primal Meats. The thought is almost too grotesque to bear. If not for the boys, their impeccable timing and their refusal to let me face my demons alone, I would’ve been lost to that world forever.