Chapter 10 - The Final Chapter of Justice
The news came on a quiet Tuesday afternoon.
Kenneth had been sentenced to fifteen years in a federal penitentiary.
His appeals had all been denied.
Maya had received a shorter sentence,
but she would never work in finance again.
Dr. Aris had lost his license and was facing his own set of civil lawsuits.
Justice wasn't just served;
it was absolute.
I sat on the porch of my new home,
watching the sunset over the valley.
The house in Cherry Hills had been sold.
I didn't want the ghosts of that life following me.
My new home was filled with light and the sound of music.
Justin was coming over for dinner,
bringing his new girlfriend,
a woman who was as kind as she was brilliant.
I felt the baby kick,
a strong,
insistent reminder of the future.
I realized then that the best revenge wasn't the glue.
It wasn't the jail time.
It wasn't even taking the company back.
The best revenge was living a life that they couldn't touch.
A life built on honesty and strength.
I looked at the folder I still kept in my study.
The one with the evidence.
I walked inside,
picked it up,
and carried it to the fireplace.
One by one,
I dropped the photos of the affair into the flames.
I dropped the forged contracts.
I dropped the lab results.
I watched as the lies turned to ash,
rising up the chimney and disappearing into the night.
The past was finally gone.
I walked back to the porch and took a deep breath of the cool mountain air.
The world was wide and full of possibilities.
And for the first time in my life,
I was the one holding the pen.
I was the author of my own story.
And the next chapter was going to be beautiful.
I smiled as I heard Justin's car pull into the driveway.
"Hey, Sis!"
he called out,
waving from the window.
"Hey, Justin,"
I whispered to myself.
May you like
"Welcome to the beginning."
The end.
