Chapter 14 - THE LIFE WE BUILT
Our relationship developed slowly.
Faith finished her nursing education.
I continued rehabilitation.
Some days I walked with a cane.
Other days I used my wheelchair.
I learned to stop measuring my worth by the distance I could travel on my feet.
Faith helped me understand that.
Not by lecturing.
By living.
She never treated my wheelchair as a tragedy.
She never celebrated every movement as though my body needed to justify its existence.
She simply loved me.
And expected me to love her with the same respect.
The legal proceedings surrounding Carter Industrial Logistics led to findings of serious safety violations and financial misconduct.
A compensation process was established for affected workers and families, including Margaret Willis's family.
Faith participated through independent counsel.
She insisted that the settlement process be transparent and not controlled by me.
I agreed.
Meanwhile, I continued separating legitimate businesses from criminal operations and accepting the legal consequences of my past.
It was not easy.
But it was necessary.
One evening, Faith visited the mansion.
We sat in the garden.
The same garden I had ignored for months after the attack.
She looked toward the flowers.
“Your mother planted those?”
I nodded.
“Years ago.”
“They're beautiful.”
I smiled.
“So are you.”
She laughed.
“Terrible line.”
“I've been saving it.”
She shook her head.
Then rested her head against my shoulder.
For a long time, we sat in silence.
And I realized something.
I had spent most of my life trying to make people stay.
May you like
Faith had taught me that love meant giving someone the freedom to leave.
And trusting that they might choose to return.
