Chapter 61: The Dust Settles

The bridge was swarming with flashing red and blue lights.

Paramedics were trying to load Arthur Sterling onto a stretcher. The once powerful tycoon was now a withered, sobbing mess. Without the Element sustaining him, his body had aged forty years in forty seconds. He looked pathetic.

"He's in shock," a medic yelled. "Get him to the secure ward!"

Jackson sat on the rear bumper of an ambulance, letting a nurse bandage his head.

"Sir, you need to go to the hospital," the nurse insisted.

"I'll go home," Jackson winced as she tightened the gauze. "My wife is waiting."

Serenity walked over, holding two thermal blankets. She wrapped one around Jackson's shoulders and sat next to him.

"You look like a mummy," she tried to joke, but her voice cracked. She buried her face in his neck, finally letting the tears fall. "You scared me to death, Jackson."

"I told you," Jackson wrapped his arm around her, kissing her smoky hair. "I wasn't going to let him win."

"The police confirmed it," Serenity whispered. "Arthur’s DNA is mutating rapidly. He will likely spend the rest of his short life in a secure government medical prison. He can never hurt us again."

Jackson looked at the bridge, where smoke was still rising. "It's finally over."

---

One hour later. The Sterling Villa.

When the car pulled up, the front door flew open.

"Daddy! Mommy!"

Mia ran out in her pajamas, followed by Alex.

Margaret stood in the doorway, leaning on Sebastian for support. She looked anxious, but when she saw Jackson and Serenity step out of the car alive, she let out a breath she had been holding for twenty years.

Jackson dropped to his knees on the grass—ignoring the pain in his body—to catch his children.

"Daddy, you are bleeding!" Mia touched the bandage on his head, her lip trembling.

"It's just a scratch, princess," Jackson hugged them both so tight it hurt. "A superhero battle scar."

"Did you beat the bad guy?" Alex asked, looking at Jackson’s battered state with respect.

"We beat him," Jackson looked up at Serenity. "Mom and I together."

Margaret walked down the stairs. She touched Jackson’s face.

"You saved us," she whispered. "My brave boy."

"We saved each other," Jackson stood up and hugged his mother.

The family stood together under the porch light. The nightmare of the Vault, the madness of Arthur, the assassins... it all felt like a distant memory now.

"I'm hungry," Mia announced suddenly, breaking the silence.

Everyone laughed. It was the best sound in the world.

"Let's eat," Jackson smiled, though he was exhausted to his bones. "Alfred! Get the chef. I want a feast. Even if it's midnight."

"Right away, Sir," the butler bowed, hiding a relieved smile.

That night, for the first time in weeks, there were no guards patrolling the hallway with guns drawn. No hacking monitors were beeped.

They sat around the dining table—three generations of Sterlings. They ate, they laughed, and they celebrated simply being alive.

Under the table, Jackson found Serenity’s hand. He interlaced their fingers.

"Now can we plan the wedding?" he whispered.

Serenity squeezed his hand back. "Yes. No more interruptions. I promise."

Outside, the New York sky was clearing. The stars were shining brighter than ever.

Peace had returned.

At least... for now.