Chapter 5 - The Choice She Finally Made
The legal threats came next.
Brandon claimed Harper had stolen personal property.
He claimed emotional distress.
He claimed she abandoned their engagement.
All lies.
But expensive lies.
Harper sat across from a lawyer Dominic recommended.
"I hate that he can still affect my life."
The lawyer looked at her.
"He only has power if you believe he does."
Harper looked down.
"I spent years believing him."
A voice came from the doorway.
Dominic.
"Then spend the next years believing yourself."
She looked at him.
"You always appear at dramatic moments."
"I've been told that too."
For the first time, Harper laughed.
A real laugh.
Dominic noticed.
And he smiled slightly.
---
The confrontation happened one week later.
Brandon requested a meeting.
Harper almost refused.
But Dominic told her:
"You don't have to hide forever."
So she went.
A private restaurant.
Public place.
Safe.
Brandon arrived fifteen minutes late.
He sat across from her.
"You look different."
Harper remained calm.
"I am different."
He smiled.
"You miss me."
"No."
The answer was so simple that it shocked him.
Brandon leaned back.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You loved me."
"I loved who I thought you were."
Silence.
Brandon's expression hardened.
"You think Russo can protect you?"
Harper looked at him.
"I don't need him to protect me."
That was the moment Brandon realized.
He had lost.
Not because another man had taken her.
May you like
Because Harper had taken herself back.
---
