I turned my back on them. The entire restaurant seemed to part like the Red Sea. I walked toward the exit, my head high, my heels striking the floor with the sound of finality.
“Laya!” Marissa screamed after me, a desperate, broken sound. “You can’t leave us with nothing!”
I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back.
I pushed open the heavy doors and stepped out into the night.
Epilogue: The Balance Sheet
The cool night air wrapped around me, quiet and clean. It smelled of rain and exhaust, a stark contrast to the stifling perfume of the restaurant.
I stood on the curb, watching the city lights blur slightly. My phone buzzed. It was a text from Daniel.
It’s done. The locks are being changed on the commercial property as we speak. Security is posted.
I typed back: Thank you, Daniel.
Behind me, through the glass windows of The Gilded Heron, I could see the chaos. Ethan was sitting with his head in his hands. Marissa was shouting at a waiter, likely trying to blame him for the ruins of her life.
I felt… weightless.
For seven years, I had carried them. I had carried their debts, their egos, their expectations. I had made myself small so they could feel big. I had dimmed my light so Ethan wouldn’t feel overshadowed.
But tonight, the ledger was balanced.
I hailed a taxi. As I slid into the backseat, the driver glanced in the rearview mirror.
“Rough night?” he asked.
I looked out the window as the restaurant—and my past life—faded into the distance.
