Quitting wasn’t easy. I spent years carving a place for myself in that office, and walking away felt like cutting a piece out of my own chest.
My mother didn’t help. She practically danced when I told her I was going to become a defense attorney and open up my own firm. Made a few comments about the irony, about me finally loosening the death grip I had on my moral compass. I let her have her fun. She deserved that moment, I suppose.
But this new life isn’t about irony. It’s about finally choosing for myself. Not out of fear or obligation, but because I want it.
Because I wanthim.
And maybe that makes me naïve or weak. But if loving Aleksei has taught me anything, it’s that the world is never just one thing. People aren’t either. Not even me.
I’ve made peace with my parents. I’ve forgiven them, not because what they did was small or easy to forget, but because I had to. For my own sake. For the sake of everything I still want from this life.
Forgiveness wasn’t easy. But for me, it wasn’t about condoning it. It was about survival. About letting go of the bitterness before it swallowed me whole.
My parents are not bad people. They just did a bad thing.
And maybe that’s something we all have in common. Being flawed and scared and human. Making choices we think we can live with until we realize too late that we can’t. The only thing that matters right now is that I’m okay and they’re okay. The rest is in the past where it belongs.
A knock pulls me from my thoughts, and I lift my gaze toward the door just as it eases open, Dana leaning her head inside with a crooked smile tugging at her mouth.
“Well, well, counselor. You look damn good behind that desk.”
I rise to my feet, giving her a quick hug. “Oh, shut up.”
She struts inside, dropping a hand to her hip as she checks out the large space. “So, this is the famous office, huh? Swanky. Classy. Very you.”
“How’s the DA’s office treating you without me?”
Dana raises a brow and drops into the chair across from mine. “Not nearly as well as your new firm’s about to treat me. That is, if you’ll have me.”
I jerk back, leaning against the edge of the desk before her. “Wait…are you serious?”
“Absolutely. Did you think I’d let you leave without dragging me along?”
“Dana…” Emotion knots in my throat.
“Don’t get mushy on me. Just say yes, because I already ordered new business cards.”
“I was secretly hoping you’d come with me. I just didn’t want to be selfish and ask.”
She snorts. “Please. With what you’ll be paying me? I’d be an idiot not to. Boss.”
I shake my head, a grin tugging at my lips before it disappears. “So, there’s something else we need to discuss…”
The discomfort grows; I don’t know how she will process the news of the man I’m married to, but I won’t hide it anymore.
“And what’s that?” She leans closer, as though bracing for whatever I’m about to say.
“So…” I lift my left hand, and that’s when she catches my rings.
“Holy shit.” Her eyes grow. “Who? How? When? I have too many questions.”
“That’s the funny part.” I nip at my bottom lip. “Or maybe the not-so-funny part, depends on how you take it.”
“Okay, did you marry a serial killer or something?” She laughs.
My face twists in a grimace. “Well…”
“Wait, I was kidding. Did you?” she whispers. “Oh my God, just spill it out because there are too many things floating in my head right now.”
