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“Where was it?” Freya asked. She looked more astonished than upset at the sight of their mother’s ring after so long.

She glanced to her right at Leo. He didn’t need an invite to the table that night. Otto simply added a chair and expected him to be in it by six o’clock. No one fought when he told everyone to be at the dinner table that night, and for every single night after. There would be exceptions, of course. Late nights during harvest, or possible moments when Sophie would be sick and couldn’t handle it. But she was doing better tonight, and she was thankfully eating some grilled steak, rice, and vegetables.

Leo brushed a hand on her knee underneath the table. They discussed what she was going to say to them about the ring. She wanted to tell them the whole truth. Leo insisted that the Marien family had been through enough that summer, let alone the past three years. There was no need for more drama.

She smiled. “I had it the whole time. Mom gave it to me as a gift. But I didn’t have the heart to wear it until tonight.”

Freya put down her fork and reached out her hand.

Alana placed her palm in it and let her sister examine the ring.

“It’s still so beautiful,” Freya said in wonder. “I’m glad to hear it’s safe.”

“Yeah.” Alana looked back at the man she loved, the man who’d brought her back home. The man who’d brought her back to herself. “I am too.”

Epilogue

Freya

Each time Freya Marien walked into the Kasner estate, she was in a suit. Or, something that looked close enough to be a suit. She didn’t have any matching pieces, only polyester blazers and capris or trousers that would make her look dressed up enough for the job. But this time, she wasn’t there to barter or beg. This time, she was there for revenge.

This time, she was there in her muddiest boots.

Freya threw open the front door and walked through the lobby with her head held high. She still wore her Marien tank top and work jeans, and boots that were mucked up from her day in the field. She spent that morning helping with post-harvest irrigation, watering the roots while checking the leaves for any powdery mildew or mold. The leaves were perfectly golden by that point, and they needed to ensure the vines were healthy before going dormant for the winter. The magic in the soil usually kept the vines safe, but they always double-checked—they couldn’t control the wind or the heat or the rain.

So her boots were muddy from watering, and she walked up to the front desk with a stern look on her face. The woman behind the desk peered over the counter at her shoes, and the large duffel bag in Freya’s hand.

“I have a meeting with Klaus Kasner,” Freya announced.

The woman, likely in her fifties, chewed on her gum. She blew a bubble, then looked at her computer. “Name?”

Freya pressed her lips together. This woman had seen her before, a number of times in her meetings with Klaus to try to negotiate with him. He never budged on helping them out. Clearly this woman didn’t care to give her any respect either.

“Freya Marien,” she announced.

She blew another bubble. “Last office at the end of the hall.”

Freya nodded, then with her head held high, she walked down the hall. She ignored the heads that popped out of their offices as she walked by, leading a satisfying muddy trail in her wake. When she reached Klaus’ office, she didn’t bother knocking.

Instead, she threw open the door, walked up to his desk, and dropped the duffel bag with a satisfying plunk.

His iced coffee tipped over and spilled onto a stack of papers, then slowly trickled toward his laptop. She expected a big reaction from him. She wanted him to scramble, to curse, to give her something that would prove he was rattled by her in that moment.

But Klaus Kasner was never the type to be rattled. As the creamy coffee moved toward his laptop and dripped down to the carpet near his feet, he simply smirked at her and leaned back in his chair, tucking his hands behind his head.

She pointed at the duffel. “Seventy-five thousand dollars, as requested.”

She didn’t have to print all the money. Yet after they reached their goal, after she had shared her dream of having this exact moment with Alana, her older sister encouraged it. It was nice being on the same side with her sister again. It made the whole getting revenge thing far more satisfying.

Klaus continued to smile at her. He didn’t move.

She glared at him, crossing her arms. “Aren’t you going to check?”

His grin widened as he shook his head. “Nope. I believe you.”

She tapped her foot. She wanted more than this, but clearly Klaus wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction. So she turned on her heel ready to stalk off.

“Wait.”