Chapter 5: Learning to Live Again
Chapter 5: Learning to Live Again
Justice did not erase trauma.
Weeks after the trial ended, Elena still woke screaming from nightmares.
Sometimes she refused to enter rooms with locked doors.
Sometimes she froze at the sound of footsteps behind her.
Alejandro never pressured her.
Instead, he learned patience.
He attended every therapy session she invited him to.
He cooked dinner.
He canceled meetings.
He listened.
One afternoon, Elena asked him to drive back to the mansion.
The house stood empty.
Every reminder of Vivian had been removed.
They walked slowly through the grand hallway.
When they reached the marble floor where she had once knelt with a bucket in her hands, Elena stopped.
Without saying a word, Alejandro knelt beside her.
She looked at him in surprise.
"You don't belong on your knees."
He smiled gently.
"Neither did you."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
This time, they were not tears of fear.
They were tears of healing.
Together they stood.
Hand in hand.
May you like
They walked out the front door.
Neither of them looked back.
