Chapter 9 - The Daughter They Tried to Take From MeLily turned one.
She took her first steps in the hallway my father had painted blue.
She laughed when she saw the garden.
She loved the greenhouse.
Every morning, I opened the windows and let sunlight into the house.
The place had become something new.
Not a reminder of violence.
A reminder of survival.
My father's company was now under my control.
I hired professionals.
I expanded the business.
And I established a foundation for women escaping abusive relationships.
Sarah became a board member.
We called it the Lily Hope Foundation.
Its first shelter opened in Portland.
The second opened a year later.
Then another.
I had once believed Julian had taken everything from me.
He hadn't.
He had accidentally shown me exactly what I was capable of rebuilding.
One afternoon, Sarah handed me a letter.
"From Julian."
I looked at the envelope.
I didn't open it.
"Do you want me to?"
"No."
"Why?"
I smiled.
"Because I already know what it says."
She raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"That he's sorry."
I looked toward Lily.
"And I'm not interested in hearing apologies from the man I survived."
May you like
I threw the letter away.
Then I picked up my daughter.
