Life after the divorce was quieter than I had imagined.
I continued working at the pet grooming shop, spending my days surrounded by cats and dogs. The routine was simple, peaceful, and oddly fulfilling.
Zane came to see me often. Sometimes he took me out to dinner. Sometimes he simply picked me up after work, sat with me in the car for a while, chatted for a bit, then drove me home.
He never rushed me, pressured me, or crossed any boundaries. That careful respect for my space slowly made me lower my guard around him.
The day Stella's case went to trial, I received a court summons. As one of the victims, I was required to testify.
Originally, I did not want to go, but my lawyer told me my testimony could affect the sentencing, so Zane drove me there himself.
Inside the courtroom, Ste
