I watched the heavy glass door swing shut behind him.

Arthur closed his folders and placed them back in his briefcase.

“The estate is fully secure, Sophia,” he said. “The seven million dollars is yours. Nobody can touch it now.”

“Thank you, Arthur,” I said.

I stood up and walked to the window.

The rain was beginning to fall again, streaking the glass.

I felt a strange, quiet emptiness in my chest, but the heavy weight that had been there for months was gone.

The next day, I called the real estate agent, Karen.

We listed the suburban house for sale that afternoon.

I did not want to spend another night in that house.

I checked into a small residential hotel near the park and left the keys with the agency.

Within three days, we had four offers.

I accepted a cash offer that was slightly below the asking price, on the condition of a two-week closing.

I did not want to negotiate.

I wanted the house gone.

On the day of the move, I went back to the house one last time to supervise the movers.