Chapter 6: The Mother Who Came Home
The court granted full custody to Ava.
Lily was officially returned to her biological mother.
The news spread everywhere.
But the only thing Ava cared about…
was the little girl sleeping peacefully beside her.
For the first time in years, Lily didn’t have nightmares.
She didn’t ask if Ava would disappear.
She didn’t ask if someone would take her away.
Because she finally understood.
Her real mommy was staying.
Grant visited often.
Not as a husband.
Not as a father who replaced someone else.
But as a man trying to repair the damage he allowed.
“I’m sorry,” he told Ava.
She nodded.
“I believe you.”
“But you’ll never forgive me.”
Ava looked at Lily playing in the garden.
“I forgive you.”
She paused.
“But forgiveness doesn’t erase what happened.”
Grant understood.
May you like
Some wounds heal.
But they leave scars.
