Chapter 8 - A NEW DAWN AT STERLING MANOR
Three weeks passed.
The transition from living on the cold pavement to living in the Sterling family's spacious coastal home was overwhelming for Luna. For the first few nights, she slept on the rug beside her bed because the soft mattress felt unnatural to her.
Marina worked patiently with her every day, buying her clothes, teaching her to read basic words, and bringing in specialized tutors and counselors to help her process the trauma of her past. Peter quickly became her fierce protector, guiding her through the house, showing her his toys, and introducing her to the family dog, a gentle Golden Retriever named Barnaby.
One evening, Richard walked into the library and found Luna standing by the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the ocean horizon.
"Can't sleep?" Richard asked softly, sitting on the bench beside her.
Luna shook her head. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up behind the fuel drums again, Mr. Sterling."
Richard reached out and gently smoothed her hair. "You don't ever have to worry about that again, Luna. You’re safe here. This is your home now."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked, looking up at him with unadulterated innocence. "I was just a dirty street girl."
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Richard felt a tightness in his throat. He crouched down so he was eye-level with her. "Luna, wealth doesn't make a person valuable. Courage does. Kindness does. You ran toward danger when everyone else was running away. You saved my wife, my son, and me. You gave us a second chance at life. You are the bravest person I have ever met."
Luna blinked back tears, then wrapped her small arms tightly around Richard’s neck. It was the first time she had embraced him willingly. Richard held her close, promising himself that no matter what happened, this child would never feel unwanted again.
