I wore a deep green dress that caught the light. I was at the height of my career and my life, and Alistair stood beside me in his black suit, one hand resting lightly at my back — a small, constant reminder that he was there.

A few steps away, Kirk batted a balloon into the air and laughed, safe and happy, a world away from the family I’d grown up in. Love rose warm in my chest.

No one would ever deceive me or endanger my family again.

“You’re somewhere far off tonight,” Alistair murmured, dipping his head toward mine.

“I was just thinking about how good our life is now,” I said.

“You built this life,” he said, with a quiet pride. “I only helped when you needed a hand.”