MasukJanice POVI accept Elizabeths proposal. Become the director of the mentorship program.I use my business skills and my experience of trauma and rebuilding to help others.I reach out to women I trust including Tricia, who is seeking redemption."I understand if you say no " Tricia says quietly."I'm not doing this for you " I reply. "I'm doing it because your story might help someone else avoid your mistakes."Twelve women join the program. Survivors of abuse, sabotage and betrayal. I see parts of my story in each of them.As I help others my own healing deepens in ways that therapy never reached.Teaching women to rebuild gives me a sense of purpose that no company ever gave me.Franco is now old enough to apply for college. Is torn between law school and business school."Choose what calls to your heart " I encourage him. "Not what you think you owe any of us."My daughter asks thoughtfully "Can I just call you Mom or does that take something away from Dian?"I pull her close. "You
Janice POV Lucas finds me staring at the letter."She wants to apologize to the kids before she gets out " I say.He hugs me from behind."I will talk to the kids " he says.I want to do it myself.I go to the kids room. I sit down with Franco."Your grandmother wants to say sorry " I tell him."Do you want to see her?" I ask.He thinks about it for a moment."Only if she understands that I will probably never fully forgive her " he says.I. Nod.Before Virginia gets out I decide to visit her.We talk for hours and I start to understand her. I see that she was hurt and that she wanted control.It does not excuse what she did. It helps me understand.When Virginia gets out we set rules. She can see the kids. It has to be supervised.Franco meets his grandmother at a coffee shop. He does not hug her. He does not turn away either.It is a start.Nelson realizes that he has been redeemed too. He is not the man he used to be.Elizabeth agrees to meet with Virginia. It is hard.. Elizabeth
Janice pov I tell my family that I am pregnant. Lucas and I look at each other. We are both blushing. Everyone is happy for us except for Franco. He looks thoughtful. "Are you okay?" I ask him. "Yeah " he says. "I have always been the kid. Now there will be someone." I put my hand on his cheek. "You will always be my child " I tell him. "That will never change, no matter how more kids we have." "I know " Franco says. "I just need to get used to sharing you." Lucas is really excited about the baby. I see him looking at colors for the nursery and reading books about parenting. He is even discussing baby names at dinner like it is a business meeting. Dian offers to help us with the baby. I realize that she will always be a part of our lives now. Not because of what happened in the past. Because she has changed and is a good person. Elizabeths investment firm is doing well. She has helped over fifty companies. I am a part-time partner. I get to give advice without having to run the compa
Janice POV I went outside in my wedding dress. I froze. My mother was standing there. "Mom?" I said. I could not believe it. "I am sorry " she said. She was holding a picture of me. I told her to follow me. We sat down. She looked at the floor. Then she looked up at me. "I did not die " she said. "I left your father. Disappeared." I was shocked. "You let me think you were dead for fifteen years " I said. "Why now?" I asked. "Why today?" My mother said, "I read about what you went. I wanted to explain why I left." Lucas came in. Found me crying. He saw my mother. Did not know what to say. "Are you okay?" he asked me. I told him "My mother is here. She is alive." Lucas said, "You do not have to figure out how you feel about that today. You can do it later." That made me feel better. We went to get married. I walked down the aisle with Franco and my daughter. It was not traditional. It was perfect. Lucas and I exchanged our vows. We promised to love each othe
I was holding a letter in my hands. I read it three times before I showed it to Lucas."She wants us to forgive her " I said."Do you think you can do that?" Lucas asked me. He did not want to push me."I do not know yet " I said. I was not sure."I think I can stop being angry with her " I said. "Maybe that is enough for now."Lucas came up to me. Pulled me close to him. I felt safe in his arms."You have an appointment with your therapist " he reminded me.I nodded. I was still in his arms.He tilted my head. Kissed me gently."We will figure this out together " he said.I smiled a little.When I was with my therapist she helped me understand some things."Forgiveness does not mean you have to see her " she said."You can let go of your anger without letting her back into your life."I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I had been holding my breath for a time."I did not know that was okay " I said.My therapist nodded."Franco is going to visit his grandmother today " she said."
Janice POV Days later, Elizabeth formally presents me the investment terms. The number is staggering enough to expand Lancaster nationally within a year.My expression unreadable.But deep down I am amazed."I don't need charity," i say carefully."This isn't charity," Elizabeth replies. "It's recognition of what you already built with nothing behind you."“I understand where you coming from but….”Elizabeth waving her hand.“You don’t have to give me a reply immediately…”She paused.“Think about it Janice…”****Nelson started therapy, real, uncomfortable, necessary work. "I want to be different," he tells the therapist.during their first session. "I just don't know where to start."The therapist observed him for a moment."You already did," she tells him. "You told the truth in front of hundreds of people. That's not nothing."Nelson hesitated.“That’s a good start Nelson..”Nelson quietly nods his head.***Leonard begins spending time with Franco. not as a father, but
Janice’s POVIt felt like a dream hearing that.“Mom”It lands.Heavy.Final.I cannot move.My mind tries to reject it before my body even responds.This is not possible.This is not real.This is not how i expected the truth to arrive.Lucas looks between Janice and the child.He was completely
“My baby!” Janice clutched her hands on her belly, tears trickling down her cheeks as the doctor stepped in, holding the result of the scan in his hands.“Doctor–is my baby fine? Is…is my baby still alive? Is everything okay with my baby?” She panicked, her heart skipping wildly in fear.“You have
"Now that you know the truth, are you going to have me arrested?"That question struck Nelson's heart as if being pierced with a sharp knife. He stepped back and gently lowered his body to the sofa. If he calls for her arrest, how will that solve the problem at hand? He thought.Of course , Janice
"Nelson, Janice they just kidnapped Janice!" Those words kept replaying in Nelson's head as he sped off to Dian's residence.He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that those thoughts will be like a dream that'll just go off his mind once he opens them, but the reality never stopped to sink in.Immediat







