I turned my back on her and walked out the front doors. I opened the door to the Maybach and offered my hand to Elena. She took it, stepping out onto the gravel driveway with Leo now awake and rubbing his eyes.

I led them up the steps and straight through the front doors. Victoria was already rushing up the grand staircase, sobbing hysterically as her friends awkwardly filtered out the side doors, eager to escape the embarrassment.

I knelt down to look at my grandson. “Are you hungry, Leo?”

He nodded shyly.

“Good. This is your house,” I told him, looking up at Elena so she understood the weight of my words. “It will always be your house. Nobody will ever make you leave again.”

Elena broke down again, but this time, they weren’t tears of fear. She threw her arms around my neck, thanking me over and over. I just hugged her back, feeling a sense of peace settle over the house that had been missing since the day we lost Liam. I couldn’t bring my son back. But I could make damn sure the people he loved most in this world never had to suffer another day in their lives.