Having worked together for many years, they shared an unspoken understanding. Eugene gave a small nod before turning away to take care of the remaining processes.

Soon, only Millie and Ari were left in the room. Millie lowered her gaze to the sweet child resting in her arms, her eyes filled with joy. She had once feared that Ari might carry lingering emotional scars from being taken hostage by Macauley and suffering those injuries. Now it was clear that she was far stronger than Millie had ever imagined.

Millie’s heart felt full now that Ari had finally called her “Mom.”

“I wish I had been there to watch you grow this past year,” Millie said, lightly tapping Ari’s cheek.

Ari curled closer and whispered, “I’m just happy you woke up. Back in the factory, no matter how loud I shouted, you wouldn’t open your eyes. I was so scared.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes as the memory resurfaced. Millie pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“I won’t ever frighten you like that again,” she promised.

Ari nodded quickly, almost too fast.

Millie’s gaze drifted to the faint scars left on Ari’s skin. They had mostly healed, yet the thought of Macauley hurting her still left a dull ache in Millie’s chest.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Ari whispered, burying herself against Millie. Her voice dropped, small and anxious. “I just don’t want you to hurt.”

Millie stroked her hair, her voice warm. “I’m fine now. Truly.”

Ari shifted a little, then suddenly planted a kiss on Millie’s cheek, making her laugh. They stayed like that for a long, easy while.

Eventually, Ari looked up and asked softly, “Mom… what about Brandon? What are you going to do?”

Millie studied the worry in her daughter’s eyes. Holding Ari’s face gently, she asked, “What do you think of him?”

Ari thought hard before answering. “He’s… a mix. He has good sides, but some parts of him are really rough.”

Seeing the little girl’s troubled look, Millie wrapped her arms around her again.

She already knew everything that had happened at the factory after she collapsed. Myron had explained more once they were alone, with details even Ari might not remember clearly now.

Neither Brandon nor Myron spoke about how Macauley and Vivian had died. Lynda had once stopped by to visit and explained the findings to Millie. The autopsy showed that Macauley and Vivian had been trapped under collapsed beams or other debris when the blaze started, unable to escape, and had eventually died in the fire. There were other injuries, but the flames had left nothing clear.

The case had been settled long ago, and both Brandon’s and Myron’s actions had been ruled as self-defense. Still, the small gaps in the story here and there left room for quiet guesses, though guesses were all they would ever be. After the explosion, communication was cut, Macauley’s phone destroyed. All the device on Brandon had picked up were broken shouts and strained cries mixed with chaos. The fire had swallowed the rest.

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