"Two hundred million is eptable," Dana said, "but that amount will include all future child support for Nic. It will be a one-time, final payment."


    "Fine," Karina agreed eagerly. She knew she was asking for a fortune and was terrified Dana might change her mind.


    But Karina didn''t seem to grasp the full implication. By settling child support in a single payment, Dana was effectively severing all ties between Nic and the Thompson family.


    From now on, any inheritance Nic might receive from Noah would be entirely at his discretion.


    With Dana mediating, Karina and Noah quickly signed the divorce agreement, arranging to finalize the proceedings the next day.


    The Thompsons were desperate to shed the burden of the White family, and Karina was desperate for the money to save her worthless brother.


    Yvonne had been waiting outside. She only went back in after the main branch of the family had departed.


    Yvonne headed up the wooden staircase to look for Bet, but she met him on thending as he wasing down.


    "Finished talking with your grandfather?" she asked.


    "Yeah," Bet nodded, taking her hand. "My parents have already left. We should go too."


    Bet led Yvonne by the hand out of the vi.


    Bet''s car was parked in a space just outside the main gate. Eden''s car was parked in the spot right next to it.


    So, just as Bet and Yvonne reached their car, they ran into Eden and Ynda. Neither Eden nor Ynda looked pleased to be there, and their expressions darkened further upon seeing Bet and Yvonne.


    No one made any move to exchange pleasantries. Eden opened the car door and, with a modicum of care, helped Ynda inside before the car sped away.


    Yvonne stood frozen, watching their car disappear into the distance before she finally looked away.


    "Let''s get in the car," Bet said, opening the passenger door for her.


    Yvonne slid into the seat and buckled her seatbelt.


    The car pulled slowly out of thepound and onto the main road, cruising at a steady speed.


    Yvonne sat in the passenger seat, her head turned to watch the scenery blur past the window, lost in a heavy silence.


    "What''s on your mind?" Bet asked as he stopped at a red light. He kept his hands on the wheel but turned his head to look at her.


    Yvonne snapped out of her thoughts, her eyes meeting his.


    "Seeing Ynda just now... it made me think of Flora," Yvonne said, her voiceced with an uncontroble tremor.


    Before Flora died, she had been so full of joy, so excited for her baby to be born. She knew it was a girl?nd had already bought so many things for her.


    There were all sorts of beautiful little dresses and outfits in soft, pastel colors, and the nursery was already filled with dolls and stuffed animals. Yvonne had even had a pair of gold bracelets and matching locket custom-made.


    She''d given the bracelets and locket to Flora, insisting she had to be the godmother.


    Flora had justughed and teased her, ''Are you sure you want to be the godmother? Not the aunt?''


    But Flora never even got to meet her baby. Her life was cut short in the prime of her youth, and her daughter never saw the light of day.


    All those little things they had prepared were buried with her and the baby, sealed forever in the cold earth.


    And yet Ynda, the one


    responsible for it all, was still


    walking around with Flora''s healthy


    kidney. She was living happily.


    getting married, having a baby of her


    own-living a perfectly normal life.