Page 112 of Ruthless Serenade

"Good," I murmur, then let silence fill the space between us.

We study each other across the barrier. It’s surreal, trying to reconcile this wounded woman with the calculated criminal who orchestrated Sharon’s kidnapping. I arrived here ready to offer forgiveness, but seeing her in the flesh stirs a hurricane of contradicting emotions. Her minimum ten-year sentence somehow feels both excessive and insufficient, leaving me caught in a web of conflicting feelings.

A harsh bell pierces our silence, marking the halfway point of our visit. Somehow, ten minutes have slipped away in our wordless assessment. Rachel’s eyes find mine again. "So, why did you come to see me, Mindy?"

I inhale deeply, steadying myself. "To tell you that I understand you."

She lets out a bitter laugh. "Right. What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means I understand what you felt when you lost Eva."

Rachel’s eyes well with sudden tears. "How can you even begin to understand that?" The words escape her as a whisper.

It’s my turn to get teary-eyed. "Because I lost my twin sister too. In a car accident that I caused."

Something shifts in Rachel’s expression as she stares at me. The hard edges of her facade seem to crumble. A flash of recognition, of shared pain, replaces the guarded hostility in her eyes.

"I’m sorry," she whispers. The raw sincerity in her voice catches me off guard.

"The reason I came all this way," I say, willing strength into my voice, "is to tell you that I understand you. That I forgive you. And in doing so, I’m hoping to finally forgive myself for what I’ve done."

Understanding dawns in her eyes like a sunrise. She presses her palm against the glass, and in that moment, I see my own pain reflected back at me.

"Thank you." Her voice comes out as a raw whisper, thick with emotion. "This means... I didn’t expect this. But it means a lot."

The final bell pierces the air. Our time is up. I rise to leave, but just as I turn, her voice catches me.

"Mindy," she calls out, her eyes brimming with raw emotion. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I hope you can forgive me one day."

The security guard appears to escort me out, but I keep my head turned, watching Rachel through the glass until the last possible moment.

A tide of emotions crashes over me - relief, sadness, guilt, hope, and a profound sense of peace, all intertwined. Once she’s out of sight, the trembling begins. I lean against the cold wall outside, drawing deep breaths to steady myself.

I did it. I faced the woman who brought such darkness into my life, and somehow, found understanding within myself. It doesn’t erase what happened, but it feels like a vital step forward - a crucial step in finally forgiving myself and releasing the guilt I’ve carried for Emily.

"It’s okay, sis,"Emily’s voice whispers through my thoughts."I’m free now. You can free yourself too."

As I’m led back through the maze of corridors, tears stream down my face unchecked. But these aren’t tears of sorrow or anger; they’re tears of release. With each step, another fragment of my burden falls away, as if I’m shedding years of accumulated pain with every footfall.

By the time I reach the parking lot, I’m smiling through my tears. I tilt my face toward the sky, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air. For the first time in years, I feel truly unshackled.

As I slide the key into the ignition and my car rumbles to life, lightness floods my chest. I found the courage to face my daughter’s kidnapper. I found the strength to forgive her. I found the strength to forgive… myself.

Smiling, I back out of my parking spot and pull into traffic.

Back home, my family awaits.

Maron, my husband-to-be.

Sharon, my beautiful daughter.

And then...

The two little souls growing in my belly.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Maron

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