Six months later, Carter Medical Solutions landed its largest contract yet. Natalie became a trusted ally. And I learned something powerful: when you stop begging someone to choose you, you finally choose yourself.

The last time I saw Ryan was outside the courthouse. He looked smaller.

“Did you ever love me?” he asked.

“I loved who I thought you were,” I said.

And I walked away, knowing the greatest gift my grandfather left me wasn’t money—but clarity.