---- Chapter 40 Two weeks later, Ava gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. They named her Hope, and she was perfect. She had Ava's dark hair and Liam's calm, steady eyes. Liam was an adoring father, completely besotted with his daughter. He and Ava settled into the happy, sleep-deprived chaos of new parenthood, their world shrinking to the size of their small, perfect family. A few months later, a small, formal envelope arrived in the mail. It was from a law firm. With a sense of trepidation, Ava opened it. It was a letter from Noah's estate. He had died a week after she had visited him in the hospital. He had left her something in his will. Not money. Not property. He had left her his majority shares in his tech company, with a single, handwritten stipulation: "To be held in trust for Hope Chen Vance. So she can build her own empire. Tell her her father was a fool, but he wished her the world." Ava stared at the letter, tears welling in her eyes. It was his final, clumsy attempt at an apology, a way to give his daughter the future he had almost stolen from her mother. ---- She showed the letter to Liam. He read it, his expression unreadable. "What do you want to do?" he asked. "| want to sell the shares," she said without hesitation. "And | want to use the money to start a foundation. A grant program for young, female game developers. To help other women build their dreams." Liam smiled, his eyes shining with pride. "l think that's a brilliant idea." And so they did. The Noah Vance Foundation for Women in Gaming was established, turning his legacy of selfishness into a force for good. One sunny afternoon, Ava and Liam were in the park, pushing Hope on the swings. She was a toddler now, full of laughter and boundless energy. Ava watched her daughter soar into the air, her happy squeals filling the park. She looked at Liam, who was watching Hope with a look of pure, unadulterated love. Her heart was so full it felt like it might burst. She had been through the fire, and she had come out stronger, whole, and happier than she had ever thought possible. She had lost a false hero and found a true partner. She had sacrificed her dream and, in the end, had gained it back, bigger and brighter than before. And she had found the greatest love of all in the small, warm hand of the little girl she had named Hope. ---- Her phone buzzed. It was a picture message from Lia. It was a photo of Scarlett, smiling, on a beach somewhere, holding hands with a handsome, normal-looking man. The caption read: "Looks like everyone is finally getting their happy ending." Ava smiled. She looked up at the blue sky, at her laughing husband, at her beautiful daughter. This wasn't an ending. This was just the beginning. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.