Chapter 7 - THE HOUSE WITH NO LOCKED DOORS
Victoria refused to return to the mansion.
Even after police released it.
Too many memories.
Arthur offered his estate.
She declined.
“I need something mine.”
He understood.
Victoria rented a three-bedroom townhouse near Mia’s school.
Smaller than the mansion’s dining room.
Mia loved it.
No echo.
No staff wings.
No security gates.
She chose a yellow bedroom.
Victoria chose one with morning sunlight.
Elena came twice a week—not as a housekeeper.
As family support.
Victoria paid her well.
And insisted she sit at the table.
The first evening Elena did, she looked uncomfortable.
Mia said:
“Chairs are for people.”
Simple.
Correct.
Victoria started therapy.
So did Mia.
Arthur did too.
That surprised everyone.
He had spent his entire life believing solving problems meant writing checks, hiring lawyers, controlling variables.
Therapy taught him something annoying:
Money could create safety.
It could not create healing.
Michael’s trial preparation continued.
Victoria had good days.
Bad days.
Sometimes a door shutting made her freeze.
Sometimes she smelled Michael’s cologne in a department store and had to leave.
One night she called Arthur.
“I miss him.”
Silence.
Then:
“I hate myself for saying that.”
Arthur answered:
“Don't.”
“How can I miss someone who tried to kill us?”
“Because the person you loved existed too.”
Maybe not safely.
Maybe not enough.
But memories do not obey court filings.
Victoria cried.
“I feel stupid.”
Arthur said:
“You were manipulated. That is different.”
Then corrected himself.
“And even if you made mistakes, you still deserved safety.”
Good.
He was learning too.
Mia began sleeping through the night again.
But she refused glass cabinets.
When they visited a furniture store and saw one, she grabbed Victoria’s hand.
They left.
No explanation needed.
A month later, Mia asked:
“Can broken glass become something pretty?”
Victoria didn't understand.
Mia’s art teacher did.
They collected safe sea glass and built a mosaic.
Blue.
Green.
Silver.
Mia titled it:
MOM GOT UP.
Victoria cried when she saw it.
The piece hung in their living room.
Not as a reminder of Michael.
May you like
As proof they survived.
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