As I stood there, I felt an overwhelming sense of liberation. Lazarus’s departure was no longer a wound but a release from a life that never truly belonged to me. My father’s final gift was more than financial security; it was the dawn of a new chapter, one where I could embrace my true self and craft a future of my own design.

Sebastian’s voice, gentle and reassuring, broke the silence one last time. “Your father always believed in you, Maya. Now it’s your turn to believe in yourself.”

And as I looked around the room, at the faces of those who truly cared for me, I knew I was finally ready to do just that.