Our family hadn’t spoken in years, a chasm of silence stretching between us ever since life’s divergent paths pulled us apart. Yet in this moment, our shared blood felt like a connection to something unbreakable, and I knew he would understand the gravity of my call.

I could picture him: standing in his office, the walls adorned with accolades that belied the world we came from. His life had always been about the edges, the shadows of morality where justice sometimes required its own brand of reckoning. It was a world I had left behind for the sake of my daughter, but desperation had brought me back to its doorstep.

As I waited, the quiet around me was absolute, a stark contrast to the turmoil within. I imagined the first domino tipping, setting off a chain reaction that would reach Preston and his father, who were now blissfully unaware of the storm gathering on their horizon. There were no second thoughts, no regrets. Just the unwavering certainty that what had happened could not go unanswered.

The water lapped against the pier, a rhythmic reminder of time slipping by. I knew Milina was in safe hands, but the feeling of helplessness refused to abate. In that cold solitude, I promised myself that she would never know this kind of betrayal again. She would be safe, surrounded by love and shielded from those who saw her as nothing more than a toy for their amusement.

As night descended, stars flickered into view, distant and indifferent to the tumult below. I drew in a long breath, letting the cold air steel my resolve. Somewhere out there, justice was preparing to balance the scales. I turned away from the lake, leaving behind the echoes of a nightmare, and walked towards the distant glow of city lights, my steps firm, guided by the unwavering love only a mother could know.