The word “lawyer” seemed to snap something in them. My father’s face crumbled, and he nodded, a silent acknowledgment of wrongdoing. My mother looked like she wanted to argue, but the fight went out of her. “We never meant to hurt anyone,” she whispered, tears brimming.
I stood, knowing I’d won the first battle. “Intentions don’t matter now. Actions do.”
As I left the room, I felt a sense of resolve. I’d set things right for Lily, even if it meant redefining my relationship with my parents. This was a new mission, one where I wasn’t just a soldier or a daughter but a protector of my family’s future. And I wouldn’t fail.
