“Mrs. Rebecca?”

Her jaw tightened. “She bought them because she wanted to. Nobody forced her.”

Margaret felt those words close the circle. Nobody forced her. That was true. Nobody forced her to give too much. Nobody forced her to stay silent. Nobody forced her to confuse sacrifice with love.

But they also could not demand that she keep paying for their comfort.

The judge placed the folder on the desk. “The property belongs to the person who purchased it. There is no basis for compensation. The claim is dismissed.”

Rebecca opened her mouth. “But she left us with nothing.”