CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE

It had been a year since the chaos, the lies, and the tangled web of deceit had unraveled. A year since Emmy and Carl had stood together, side by side, as everything around them had crumbled. Now, they were slowly building a new life, one without the shadows of their past hanging over them.

The world had changed, but the love between Carl and Emmy remained unshaken.

Carl had accepted a position at a different college, away from the constant scrutiny that had once followed him. He taught philosophy and ethics now, giving lectures that inspired young minds to think critically about the world. His days were filled with books and discussions, but in the evenings, he was still the man Emmy had fallen in love with—a man who held her close when the world seemed too big, too loud.

Emmy, on the other hand, had found her passion in giving back. After the collapse of her family’s empire, she’d dedicated herself to running a foundation for children from broken homes. She poured every ounce of her