Chapter 76 The Aftermath.

The weeks following Marcus’s conviction felt like waking up from a long, dark dream. There was a palpable shift in the air, a new kind of lightness that hadn’t been there before. But as much as I wanted to revel in the victory, there was still the aftermath to contend with—rebuilding the pieces of our lives and our business that Marcus had tried so hard to destroy. Kai was in better spirits than I had seen in months. With Marcus out of the picture, the constant stress that had hung over him like a dark cloud was finally beginning to lift. But I knew my husband well enough to see the lingering traces of exhaustion in his eyes. This battle had taken a toll on him, and even though he was putting on a brave face, the weariness was still there. We were sitting in the living room one evening, the fireplace casting a warm glow across the room. Lily was at a friend’s house for a sleepover, and Michael was already tucked in for the night, leaving us with a rare moment of quiet. Kai had a glas