After our family reunion, I checked my account — it was drained. My brother-in-law snorted,

28

The door creaked open behind me, and Allison joined me, her expression weary but resolute. “Thank you, Rebecca,” she said quietly. “For everything. I know it couldn’t have been easy.”
“It wasn’t,” I admitted. “But sometimes, standing up for yourself means making hard choices.”
We stood together in silence, the bond between us tempered by fire, but strengthened.

As I looked out over the tranquil water, I felt the familiar spark of determination rekindle within me. Mitchell Designs would rise again, stronger and more resilient than ever. This was just another challenge to overcome, another chapter in the story of my life—a story I was determined to write with my own hand.