A tall man in a dark gray suit stood in the front row, watching her with an unreadable expression. It was her father, Carson—whom she hadn’t spoken to in almost three years, not since the brutal argument where he told her that marrying Hunter was lowering her standards.

She’d shot back that she was tired of a father who only supported what he could boast about to his friends, and they hadn’t exchanged a single word since.

And yet, there he was, standing in the front row of her defense. He didn’t smile, and he didn’t raise a hand in greeting. He just slowly rose from his seat.

Behind him, like an unstoppable, silent wave, the entire department began to rise as well.

They didn’t stand out of pity, or because they knew the story of her hair. They stood out of pure, hard-earned respect. Rebecca was at her side, the students were in the back, and even Dr. Samira stood, all of them looking at her the way you look at someone who has walked through hell and still chose to arrive at the destination.

Selena took one deep breath and began her presentation.