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“You still did that?”
Cassidy smiled softly.
“Our daughter shouldn’t inherit our mistakes.”
She walked toward the door.
Behind her, Diane quietly sobbed.
Jessica stared silently at the floor.
Brendan called after her.
“Cassidy.”
She stopped but didn’t turn around.
“I’m sorry.”
The room waited.
Cassidy finally spoke.
“I believe you.”
Another long silence followed.
“But forgiveness doesn’t always rebuild what disrespect destroys.”
She continued walking.
Outside, the rain had stopped.
The cool evening air felt different now.
For years, Cassidy had mistaken silence for strength.
Now she understood the difference.
Real strength wasn’t proving people wrong.
It was refusing to become like them.
She stepped into the waiting car.
As it pulled away, Arthur asked quietly,
“Where to now, ma’am?”
Cassidy smiled as she rested a hand on her unborn daughter’s gentle kick.
“Home.”
“For the first time in a very long time…” she whispered.
“I’m finally free.”