Cutting Ties

With Marcus Sinclair defeated, Vivian departed, and Penny Townsend gone from her life, Mila Morgan finds herself standing at the pinnacle of success—her company more powerful than ever and her future with Drake Hawthorne secure. But there remains one final piece of her past, one loose end that she can no longer ignore: Julia Morgan, her mother.

For years, Julia has been a ghost haunting Mila's life. Always hovering on the periphery, Julia would swoop in when it suited her, offering unsolicited advice veiled as motherly concern, only to disappear just as quickly when her selfish interests were no longer served. Their relationship had long been a battlefield, scarred by Julia's opportunism, her abandonment, and the constant undercurrent of manipulation. Julia never seemed to care about what Mila wanted—only about what Mila could give her.

Now, with the dust of the corporate war settled and Mila firmly in control of her future, she realizes she no longer needs or wants her mother's influence. Julia had always been a figure of pain, a reminder of childhood wounds that had shaped Mila into the fiercely independent woman she is today. But now, it's time to put that chapter behind her.

One evening, Mila returns to her penthouse after a long day at work. The space is quiet, filled with the soft glow of the city's lights streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She moves through the sleek, modern kitchen, ready to unwind with a glass of wine, when she notices a small envelope resting on the kitchen counter.

Her steps slow as she approaches it, her eyes narrowing as she recognizes the elegant handwriting on the front. It's from Julia. A tight knot forms in her chest, though not out of fear or uncertainty—no, she knows exactly what this is. She picks up the envelope, feeling its weight in her hand, already anticipating what lies within. Another note of manipulation. Another attempt by Julia to wield control over her life, disguised as motherly concern.

Mila tears open the envelope, her fingers moving with precision, though her mind races with the familiar bitterness that always comes with dealing with her mother. Inside is a letter, written in the same precise, condescending tone that Mila has come to expect from Julia.

The letter begins with the usual passive-aggressive disapproval. Julia criticizes Mila's choices, questioning her decisions about the merger, the way she handled Marcus Sinclair, and most of all, her relationship with Drake. The words are barbed, laced with warnings about the dangers of trusting Drake, hinting that Mila's success is fragile and could be undone by a man. Julia never misses an opportunity to remind Mila of her supposed mistakes, all under the guise of motherly advice.

Mila stands in the middle of her penthouse, the city lights twinkling beyond the glass walls as she reads the letter in silence. Her expression remains impassive, her features carefully controlled, but beneath that exterior, something shifts. There was a time, not long ago, when a letter like this from Julia would have sent Mila spiraling. A time when her mother's words still had the power to pierce her, to make her second-guess herself.

But not anymore.

Mila reaches the end of the letter, Julia's final parting shot—a thinly veiled warning that trusting Drake will be her downfall. The knot in Mila's chest loosens as she realizes that these words, once powerful enough to sway her, now mean nothing.

Without hesitation, she folds the letter and walks toward the fireplace. The penthouse is quiet except for the faint crackling of the flames as they dance inside the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room. Mila stands before the fire, holding the letter in her hand for just a moment longer.

This is the last vestige of her toxic past—the final tether to a relationship that has caused her more pain than love. She no longer needs Julia's approval. She no longer needs to prove anything to the woman who abandoned her when she was young, who only returned when there was something to be gained.

With a flick of her wrist, Mila tosses the letter into the flames.

She watches in silence as the paper curls and blackens, the ink dissolving into ash. The words that once held power over her life are consumed, turned to nothing more than smoke and embers. As the fire devours the letter, Mila feels an unfamiliar sense of liberation settle over her.

For years, Julia's presence in her life had been like a shadow—always there, lingering, casting doubt over every decision, every success. But now, that shadow is gone. The past, with all its wounds and scars, is being burned away, leaving Mila standing on the other side, stronger, more in control, and free.

She steps back from the fireplace, feeling lighter than she has in years. Julia may have tried to shape her into something small, something dependent on approval, but Mila has become something far greater. She has built an empire, created a life on her own terms, and found a true partner in Drake—someone who respects her, challenges her, and values her for who she truly is.

As the last of the letter burns to ash, Mila turns away from the fireplace, her thoughts clear. She is done with the past, done with chasing approval from those who will never give it freely. She no longer needs Julia's guidance or her toxic influence. Mila is her own person now—independent, strong, and fully in control of her destiny.

She walks back to the window, the city stretching out before her, the lights of New York reflecting the boundless possibilities of her future. The world is hers, and for the first time, she feels fully unburdened by the chains of her past.

Mila Morgan, once defined by her mother's disapproval, is now a woman who defines herself. And with Julia out of her life for good, Mila steps forward into a future that belongs entirely to her—and to her alone.