Three weeks after the district attorney closed the investigation, life began to return to normal. William was back at Ashcroft Enterprises full-time, rebuilding relationships with clients who'd been spooked by the scandal. Lucy was working on her foundation, the Margaret Chen Memorial Fund, which would help women in difficult situations find support and second chances.
They were having breakfast when Lucy's phone rang. Her father's rehabilitation center.
"Mrs. Ashcroft, this is Nurse Patterson. Your father had a fall this morning. He's okay, but the doctor wants you to come in. There's something we need to discuss."
Lucy and William rushed to the facility. They found Jackson in his room, looking frail but alert. His doctor, a stern woman named Dr. Patel, was reviewing his charts.
"Mr.
