But neither was true.
The real victory was sitting at that table, surrounded by people who were finally learning to see me, without needing to destroy anyone else to prove I mattered.
Still, I had to admit one thing.
When Kai’s company corrected the project records and his promotion was delayed, I had felt a little satisfaction.
When my divorce was finalized and Molly realized I wouldn’t beg her to return, I’d slept better than I had in months.
And when I stopped rescuing my brother from every consequence, he finally began learning how to stand on his own.
I wasn’t ashamed of any of that.
Revenge, I discovered, didn’t always require a grand speech, a public humiliation, or a carefully planned scheme.
Sometimes it was simply refusing to keep paying the price for somebody else’s choices.
I lifted my fork and took a bite of chocolate cake.
Mom watched me.
