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Winnie’s own heart thudded against her chest. The freedom she clutched tightly in her hand grew, feeling stronger, more malleable. Could she maintain this feeling? Take it and run with it for longer?

“You know what, Dad?” she began, testing the waters further. “I’m not sure that I did receive a better offer.”

Dad stared at her through the phone, her siblings deathly silent, each of them in shock. But their reactions, oddly enough, only proved to lend her more courage.

“In truth,” she continued, “I loved working on the festival with the Wintours. I know you don’t want to hear that because it’s embarrassing for a Knox to admit enjoying a simple job and a simple life, but I don’t care anymore. I loved it there.”

Speaking the words aloud unleashed a current within her more powerful than she’d ever felt before. The freedom at her fingers was now so commanding, she could no longer maintain hold of it, and it spilled from her hands in droves like sunshine that couldn’t be contained.

She was done. She was done being silent, of following exactly what Dad told her to, simply because he wanted to grow his own business for his own prestige. If she was being forced to do something she didn’t want to do, she was going to let them know about it.

“I felt more joy there than I have in all of my other jobs, all of my other prospects combined,” she said. “But now, I’m being⁠—”

Dad sighed, cutting her off. “That’s great, Winnie. I’m glad it was so good. But I’ve got some things to see to before my workday starts, so we’re going to have to call it a day here.”

Winnie scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. Of course he’d end her words prematurely. He didn’t want to hear how she really felt. He just wanted her to blindly agree with everything he said. Just like she always had.

But what if she didn’t want to be that person anymore? What if she wanted to be…just Winnie?

She’d learned enough from interacting with her dad that chasing after money and acclaim led to nothing but stress and unwanted pressure. But from the Wintours, from Matthew, she’d learned that passion and heart, that sacrifice for those in real need, led to true happiness.

What she was doing for Dad wasn’t that. What she was doing for him wasn’t what she wanted to do, it was what Dad wanted her to do. And yet, following him had been…her choice.

All at once, something clicked within Winnie’s mind, a light switching on and brightening the darkness she’d been trapped inside for years.

It was her choice. Just like Matthew had told her. How had it taken her so long to figure that out?

“Wait,” she said, as if her voice was coming from a different person. Then again, it was. Because she was different. “You can wait a few more minutes for me to finish.”

Dad stared at her in silence, as did the rest of her siblings on her small screen. Instead of those stares intimidating her like usual, strength poured into Winnie’s heart.

“All right,” Dad said after a moment, clearly struggling to give her permission. “Go on, then.”

Winnie drew a deep breath. She wouldn’t be rude, nor would she blame her dad for her struggles. Not anymore. That blame had held her back, had prevented her happiness, for too long. But now, Winnie was an adult. She was changed.

She was ready to be free.

“I rode a horse again,” she stated simply.

Sarah smiled. Dad’s jaw twitched. Everyone else merely watched in surprise.

“That was something I hadn’t done in more than a decade,” she continued.

“Because you chose to do something more sensible,” Dad said.

“No,” she corrected. “Because I was persuaded to do something you thought would bring the Knox family name more prestige than your daughter accidentally falling off a horse.”

His lips thinned.

“I’m not going to blame you any longer, though, Dad,” she said. “I know you were doing what you thought was best for the family. But I need you to know, that’s not going to happen again. From now on, I’m going to make my own decisions. And the first one I’m going to make right now is to stay in England. I’m going to keep working for Foxwood and not accept the offer by Kris & Sons.”

Sarah’s smile grew, though she tried to hide it behind her hands. Everyone else’s mouths dropped open except for Dad’s. He simply shook his head.

She rushed on before he could stop her. “I know I’ve been a huge disappointment to you over the years. I’ve done my best, but my heart hasn’t been in anything I’ve tried over the last decade. And truth be told, I’m tired. I’m tired of trying to live up to the expectations of this family. I’ll never be as adventurous as Spencer, as intelligent as Scott, as creative as Samantha, or as driven as Sarah. And I sure as heck will never be as persuasive as you, Dad.”

She looked out to the window again, staring at the droplets of rain still speckling the glass—just how they’d looked that day she’d spun out on the road to Foxwood. On the day she’d met Matthew.

“But,” she said with a smile, “I’m okay with that. I’m okay with not having a fancy job. I’m okay with being just Winnie. Average Winnie. The Winnie who wants to lead a simple life filled with horses…and spent with the man I love here.”