The front door clicked shut, the sound final and sweet. For the first time, the walls of the house didn’t feel like they were closing in; they felt like a sanctuary. The court clothes were stifling, a heavy costume from a life I no longer had to lead. I kicked off my heels, the cool floor beneath my feet feeling like solid ground for the first time in years. I shed the restrictive blazer, letting it fall to the floor in a heap, followed by the jewelry that had felt like golden shackles throughout the trial.
Liam went straight to the kitchen, returning a moment later with a bottle of champagne he’d hidden away. He didn't just pour it; he handled the bottle with a celebratory flourish I hadn't seen in him since the nightmare began. The pop of the cork was the only gavel I cared about now, a
