“Lia,” Eleanor said quietly as I reached the door. “What will you do?”
I paused.
“I’ll figure out who I am without a title,” I said.
And then I left.
The air outside felt different.
Not lighter.
Just clearer.
I stood on the sidewalk for a long moment, watching cars pass, people moving through their ordinary lives. No one pointed. No one whispered. The world hadn’t ended.
My phone buzzed.
Cassian.
I answered.
“It’s done,” I said.
A beat.
“And?” he asked.
“I resigned.”
Silence on the other end.
Then, softly, “Are you okay?”
I surprised myself by laughing.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I don’t feel trapped.”
“I’m proud of you,” he said.
The words hit harder than they should have.
“I’ll meet you at the house,” I said.
“I’m here.”
Of course, he was.
When I walked back into his South of Broad home, the courtyard fountain was running softly, water catching sunlight like nothing had shifted.
Cassian stood near the kitchen island, sleeves rolled, expression unreadable until he saw my face.
He didn’t ask for details.
He didn’t demand a recap.
He just opened his arms.
I stepped into them.
