Rick died four months later.
Daniel was removed from the company before the year ended. The records made silence impossible.
Angela lost her seat on the foundation board after two senior staff members backed up what Rick had documented. She stopped acting like the room was hers.
“I’m sorry, Layla.”
Violet came to see me a week later with red eyes and no excuses. She had read every bill, transfer, and note in Rick’s hand.
“I was wrong about you,” she said.
“Yes.”
She cried, but I didn’t. I was done begging people to choose me kindly.
A month later, I walked into the foundation office with my own key. No one smirked or asked why.
