Applause broke in waves across the city long before Julia or Brandon even stepped outside the gala venue the next morning. News outlets replayed the footage of the exposed culprit, donations to the Bailey-Hughes Foundation nearly crashed their website, and social feeds were flooded with one phrase:
“The couple who refused to break.”
Julia scrolled through the messages as she sat curled against Brandon on their small sofa, exhaustion sinking into her bones. Yet every heartbeat felt lighter.
“They’re finally listening,” she whispered.
Brandon brushed a thumb over her temple. “They’re finally seeing.”
Outside their window, soft gray dawn folded over the skyline, rain kissing the glass in a gentle rhythm—as if the world itself had exhaled.
A chime surfaced on Brandon’s phone. He frowned
