As Sophie settled into her new routine, she began to thrive. She found a small apartment for her and Ethan, modest but filled with laughter and love. Ethan adjusted well, making new friends and excelling at school. Sophie made sure to attend every school event, cheering him on from the sidelines with pride.

Meanwhile, Daniel reached out, attempting to assert control once more. “You’ll come back eventually,” he wrote in a text message one night. Sophie read it, took a deep breath, and deleted it without replying. She no longer felt the need to justify her choices or explain herself to a man who had dismissed her so easily.