Chapter 108

ELLE

A year passed before I even realized it.

A year since the trial. A year since the screaming, the sentencing, the nightmares. A year since the deaths of Evans and Melody. A year since I held Raymond’s hand in that cold courtroom and told myself we would survive.

And somehow… we did. Today was proof of that survival, because it was my daughter’s first birthday.

Raymond and I decided to make it special, celebrating it in the best way possible.

Balloons floated along the ceiling like little planets in the sky. It was a mix of different shades of pink, gold, and soft lavender.

The living room looked like we were celebrating a princess from a Royal family.

We might not be royals, but Mira—my baby, my little miracle—was definitely a princess.

We had made sure to invite all our loved ones. We wanted to share the moment with them.

Someone turned on music and the speakers hummed with joyful melodies. The smell of grilled food mingled with vanilla frosting and the sugary scent o