Serein House entered bankruptcy.

Assets sold.

Inventory liquidated.

Retreat lease terminated.

Employees’ wage claims prioritized under applicable processes.

Martin Cole recovered part of his loan.

Seraphine’s personal guarantees remained partly unresolved.

Adrian did not pay them.

At first he wanted to.

Not for Seraphine.

To make the mess disappear.

Evelyn warned:

“Rescuing the debt may help her avoid learning what happened.”

Adrian hated the phrasing.

Then saw the truth.

He had spent years solving things with money.

This time, lawful bankruptcy would solve what money could not.

Not pain.

Structure.

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