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Alexander Pierce was sentenced to three years.
Much lighter than Isabella's sentence, but enough.
That last glance in the courtroom — his eyes were desperate and hollow.
I turned away without giving him any response.
I bribed a prison guard, ordering him to drive 100 steel nails into Isabella.
For the pain she inflicted on my daughter, I would make her repay it a ten times over!
The guard sent back videos to me.
At first, when the nails started going in, Isabella was still crying, begging on her knees.
By the time the 20th nail was driven in, only her weak moans and screams could be heard.
Gushing blood stained the prison uniform red.
I coldly watched Isabella, covered in nails like a porcupine.
My heart was icy, lost in thought.
Lily's hand held mine tightly. She had grown so much, the scars on her legs faintly visible under her skirt.
"Mommy, can we go now?"
I nodded. The stone in my heart could finally be put down.
Liam drove to pick us up. He asked nothing, just handed me a pack of tissues.
I only then realized I was crying.
Not from sadness—from relief.
The scenery outside the window grew more unfamiliar. We were heading to a small coastal city.
No one knew us there. No one would point fingers.
Lily leaned against the car window, watching the view, utterly excited.
"Mommy, look! There are so many flowers over there!"
Liam glanced at me through the rear-view mirror. "There's a flower market there. Didn't you say you wanted to open a flower shop?"
I paused.
Yeah, I had said that.
On some sleepless night, I had mentioned my idea of starting over to him.
He remembered.
The new home was a seaside villa with a yard full of sunflowers.
Lily ran into the garden as soon as we entered, squatting down to carefully examine the flowers.
"Mr Murphy, will these flowers always face the sun?"
"Yes, they always turn toward the light."
In that moment, I suddenly wanted to cry.
Not from pain, but from warmth.
That night, while helping Lily tidy her room, she suddenly asked me,
"Mommy, will Daddy come looking for us?"
I stopped what I was doing. I'd thought about this countless times.
"He won't," I said softly but firmly.
Lily nodded. "That's good. I don't want to see him again."
The child's words broke my heart.
She used to long to return to Alexander's side, thrilled by his slightest smile.
Now, nothing was left.
I couldn't sleep that night, standing on the balcony watching the sea. Liam came over with a glass of milk.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Wondering if it was worth it," I took the glass. "Spending all these years just to get back at him."
Liam leaned against the railing. "Do you think it was?"
I thought for a long time. "Worth it. Lily is back with me. That's enough."
He said nothing, just stayed with me, watching the sea.
The sea breeze was cool, but for the first time, I felt free.
The next day, Lily was going to her new school. She was so nervous she got up early to try on clothes.
"Mommy, will the kids think I'm weird?"
"Why would you think that?"
She pointed to her legs. "Because of these."
I knelt down, looking at her seriously. "Lily, this wasn't your fault. And the people who really care about you won't treat you differently because of it."
She nodded, but worry still lingered in her eyes.
Liam drove us to school.
On the way, he told Lily, "If anyone bullies you, tell Uncle Liam, okay?"
Lily giggled. "Uncle Liam, are you scary?"
"Only to bad people," he said seriously, making Lily laugh uncontrollably.
Watching them interact, my heart felt warm. This was what family felt like.
A month later, my flower shop opened.
Lily would come help after school. She had a talent for it—arranging flowers with real spirit.
Customers all praised her skill.
"Mommy, I think our life has gotten better," she said earnestly, organizing the baby's breath.
I patted her head. "Yes, much better."
One night, Liam suddenly seemed nervous. He rubbed his hands, hesitating.
"What's wrong?" I asked curiously.
"Evelyn, I..." He took a deep breath. "I wanted to say, if you're willing..."
My heart raced. I knew what he was going to say.
"I'm not ready yet," I interrupted him. "Give me a little time."
He nodded. "I'll wait."
In that moment, I suddenly wanted to cry.
Finally, there was someone in this world willing to wait for me.
Not demanding, not asking—just simply waiting.
Lying in bed at night, I thought of Alexander.
I wondered how he was doing.
Would he regret it in prison? Would he think of Lily?
But none of that mattered anymore.
What mattered was that we were all growing toward the light.
