“I thought you sold yourself,” she said.

“You thought the worst of me too easily,” I replied.

She apologized.

I believed her—but I wasn’t ready to comfort her.

Rick passed away four months later.

His son lost his position.

His daughter lost her control.

The truth left no room for lies.

Violet returned, changed.

“I was wrong about you,” she said.

“Yes,” I answered.

A month later, I walked into the foundation office.

No one questioned me.

No one looked down on me.

They stood when I entered.

And for the first time in my life—

I wasn’t someone’s burden.

I was someone they trusted.