My fiancée locked my eight-year-old daughter away at every party—then threatened me with the alliance she didn’t know was already dead
/
Chapter 20 / 27
Chapter 20 - My diversion ends
My case ended separately.
I completed every requirement.
Conflict-management course.
Community service.
Restitution.
No new offense.
Dismissal after diversion.
I did not call it exoneration.
Liora was nine by then.
She asked:
“Did judge say cake okay?”
“No.”
“Then why no jail?”
“Different cases have different outcomes.”
“Did you say sorry?”
“To Seraphine through lawyers, yes.”
She looked shocked.
“Why?”
“Because I should not have attacked her after you were safe.”
“But she bad.”
“She did something very wrong.”
“So?”
“So accountability is not something only the person we dislike has to do.”
Liora thought.
“I don’t like that rule.”
“Neither do most adults.”
She laughed.
Then:
“Still funny cake.”
I sighed.
May you like
“Unfortunately.”
────────────────────
