With proper legal guidance she collected the prize, paid the taxes, and cleared her own debts. She bought back the sewing machine she’d pawned, repaired the house in Pinecrest, and placed the rest under professional asset management.

Spencer would have no access to the capital.

When he found out about the trust structure, he showed up at her house furious. “You really think I’d try to rob you again?”

“I think you’re still learning how not to,” Abigail said.

“You’ll never forgive me.”

“Forgiving you doesn’t mean handing you the keys to the safe.”