Andrew looked at me.
Waiting.
I looked at Evan.
And I understood something painful and freeing.
If I destroyed everything today, it wouldn’t just hurt them.
It would hurt him.
And he didn’t deserve that.
I turned to the notary.
“I want formal record of revoking exclusive use of the property, prohibiting any asset disposal, and removing unauthorized individuals.”
Margaret stiffened.
“What did you say?”
I met her eyes.
“You’re leaving. Today.”
Her composure cracked.
“You can’t do that.”
“I can. And I am.”
Emily stepped forward, trembling.
“Mom… maybe it’s better if—”
“If I leave?” Margaret snapped.
Emily didn’t back down.
“Yes.”
Daniel whispered, “Emily…”
She looked at him, hurt and furious.
“You hid all of this?”
He stayed silent.
That was his answer.
Emily turned to her mother.
“You’ve gone too far.”
Margaret grabbed her purse.
“This isn’t over,” she muttered as she passed me.
“For you, it is,” I replied.
The agents escorted her out.
When the door closed, the silence felt strange.
Not peaceful.
Just… real.
Emily began to cry.
Daniel stood there, broken.
I walked to Evan.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
He touched my face.
“You’re not in trouble anymore?”
I smiled through the tightness in my throat.
“No, baby. Not anymore.”