“I never wanted to hurt you,” she whispered.
“I know,” I said quietly.
And for the first time since the scandal exploded, I felt something other than rage.
I felt clarity.
Forgiveness didn’t happen all at once. It wasn’t a magical moment where everything disappeared. It was a choice.
I chose not to let one man’s selfishness destroy two sisters.
When she was discharged, I brought her home with me.
The kids were confused at first. But children are softer than adults. They remember laughter more than they remember scandal. Slowly, she became “Auntie” again — reading bedtime stories, packing lunches, showing up at school events.
She never asked for anything.
