“He had to sell his car to pay his defense attorney.”

“What about Kayla?” Rachel asked.

“She moved back to her parents’ house in Ohio,” I said.

“Apparently, she left him the day after the settlement meeting.”

Rachel raised her glass.

“To new beginnings,” she said.

“To peace of mind,” I replied, clinking my glass against hers.

The wine was cold and crisp.

I looked out over the treetops as the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet.

For the first time in years, my mind was quiet.

I had my work, my friends, and a future I could build on my own terms.

The cost of Scott’s greed had been high, but I had paid my share and walked away free.

I took a deep breath of the cool evening air, feeling entirely at peace.