Instead it came in little pieces: the knowledge that I did not have to explain my day to Preston, that Lorraine had no place in my home, and that my money could be used according to decisions I understood.

I stopped at a small café and ordered a pastry simply because I wanted one.

It tasted better than the untouched box Preston had brought to Elaine’s office.

PART 26: A NEW RULE AT LAWSON HOLDINGS

The company did not recover just because Preston was gone.

We still had suppliers to pay, teams to support and years of habits to change.

The board commissioned updated internal controls and established a permanent audit committee with independent authority.