“That,” Henry said, pulling my attention back to him, “was fucking badass.” He grinned and gave me a double thumbs-up, that almost made me smile.
“Fuck,” I breathed, the word trembling out of me. My eyes burned, and I scrubbed my hands over my face.
Henry’s hand landed on my shoulder. “You okay?”
I shook my head. Then nodded. “Yeah. I will be—I am.” Anger still coiled in my chest, hot and sharp, along with indignation and helplessness—the same things he always dragged back into my life without fail. I took another breath.
No more.
I didn’t need him.
I didn’t need someone who didn’t know how to be—or didn’t even seem to want to be—a parent. I had more than enough people in my life. A family. Whole and perfect without him.
“I am,” I said again, this time with more conviction. “And I’m done.” My shoulders finally relaxed as I met Henry’s gaze. “I sent the information over for the investigation last week. Talked it through with Ash.”
Henry’s eyes widened slightly. “Holy fuck, E. Are you sure you’re okay?” His hand tightened on my shoulder.
“Yeah. I mean, is it ideal? No. I don’t want my father to be part of a legal battle, but if they fine him, that’s fair, right? At least he’ll think twice before screwing someone over again.”
Henry’s expression softened. “It’s more than fair.”
I stepped out of his grasp and shrugged, my head still a mess—but a more resolute one. “We should get going.”
Henry nodded, though his dark eyes stayed on me. “Let’s. But before we do…” He took a second, like he was deciding how to say it. “You should know that what you just did? It was unbelievably brave. I’m proud of you, E, for a lot of things—but right now, because… you really do know how to stand up for yourself, don’t you?”
There was something unspoken in that. Part of it was about me, yeah—but another part of it was about him too. Andsomehow, that made me settle even deeper into the decision. Knowing it helped him in some way.
“I’ll stick up for you too,” I said. “Aggressively. If you ever need me to.” My lips curved into a smile.
He matched it, and together, we left the apartment.
Closing the door behind me felt like closing one chapter and stepping into another. And as I breathed in the cold February air, I realized how much I fucking loved this—walking into my life instead of being trapped by my past.
And doing so in perfect company.
The city hummed around us, bright beneath a pale winter sun, the cold sharp but alive with movement. Only a few blocks later, we spotted Sebastian and Vanessa lingering outside the restaurant—a tapería—both absorbed in Sebastian’s phone.
The sight of my new fiancé sent heat rushing up my neck, and I had to fight the grin threatening to take over my face. All thoughts of my father vanished instantly, and my thumb rubbed absently over the band on my finger once more.
A cold hand reached out and pinched my cheek.
“Look at you,” Henry said. “All cute and smitten.”
I swatted him away. “Get off me.”
That little scuffle caught their attention. Sebastian glanced up and smiled when his gaze landed on me…
…and Vanessa looked downright feral with barely contained excitement.
Huh.
Sebastian met me halfway, and the moment his lips touched mine, I was right back in honeymoon heaven.
“Hello, darling.”
“Again.” I smiled and leaned in for another kiss. “You’re all warm.”
A soft huff brushed my mouth as he deepened it.
