Chapter 38

Jane sat at her kitchen table, the dim light of the early morning casting long shadows across the room. The conversation with her mother had left her with a mix of emotions. Her mother’s disappointment was clear, and it stung deeply, but Jane’s resolve was only strengthened. She felt as if she were standing on the precipice of a cliff, looking down into an abyss of uncertainty. Yet, instead of retreating, she prepared to leap.

The apartment, once a symbol of her autonomy and strength, now felt like a cage—a place where her thoughts were too loud and her fears too palpable. Jane stared at the stack of papers and files scattered on the table, evidence of her relentless battle against Scot and Mia. The documents, her arsenal of legal maneuvers and personal attacks, now seemed to weigh heavily on her shoulders.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number she had been hesitant to call. It rang twice before being answered.

“Hello?” a voice on the other end said, sharp and inquisitive.

“Hi,