A future he had not designed.
Grace eventually framed Melissa’s handwritten letter.
Lily launched the first program through their nonprofit.
Ben took a job in digital forensic security and developed the irritating habit of telling everyone in the family to use password managers.
My mother still despises blush-colored table runners.
And me?
I kept my house.
I kept my savings.
I kept Melissa’s letter.
I kept my children.
Most importantly, I kept myself.
Nathan had told Linda that after the wedding I would do whatever he asked because I was desperate for stability.
He had been wrong about only one thing.
I was desperate.
But not for a husband.
Not for a ring.
Not for someone to rescue me.
I was desperate to protect the family I had spent half my life holding together.
And once I realized he was threatening that family, the woman Nathan had spent twenty-two months manipulating disappeared.
