Gwen wasn’t after revenge — she wanted protection, an acknowledgment of harm, and a guarantee of safety.

The court settlement set permanent restraining orders, mandatory counseling for both of them, and restitution for the traceable medical costs.

Chapter 6 — It Is Finally Growing Back

Six months on, my mother came to the workshop.

She arrived in plain clothes, no gold, her hair tied back, her hands worn from long hours in kitchens.

For the first time in my life, she looked fragile instead of commanding.

“I’m not here to ask for the house or the money,” she said quietly. “I only came to ask whether Gwen is all right.”