Chapter 9 - I STOPPED WANTING REVENGEJason eventually accepted a plea agreement on the financial charges.
He lost his company.
Paid restitution.
Served time.
Rachel rebuilt her career.
Slowly.
She reopened a small accounting practice.
Her first office had two rooms.
One desk.
One plant Mia chose because “offices need something alive.”
Rachel laughed when she said it.
The practice grew.
Not huge.
Not glamorous.
Hers.
One evening, Mia asked:
“Do you still hate Daddy?”
Rachel thought.
“I don’t know if I hate him.”
“He hurt us.”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you hate him?”
“Because I don’t want what he did to live inside me forever.”
Mia didn’t fully understand.
That was okay.
She rested her head against Rachel.
“Do I have to forgive him?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“No.”
“What if I want to later?”
“That’s yours too.”
Mia smiled.
That was when Rachel understood.
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The best revenge was not Jason suffering.
It was Mia growing up without learning that love required fear.
