He had hidden money.
He had manipulated investors.
And worst of all, he had spent years convincing everyone that his success belonged entirely to him.
It didn’t.
Not even close.
One afternoon, months later, I attended the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
When I entered the auditorium, everyone stood.
I looked across the room.
Executives.
Engineers.
Investors.
Employees.
People who had once believed I was nothing.
Now they were applauding.
I didn’t feel victorious.
I felt free.
After the meeting, I walked outside.
The sun was setting over the city.
Daniel approached me.
“You know,” he said, smiling, “there’s still one question everyone keeps asking.”
“What question?”
He laughed.
“Why didn’t you destroy Aaron completely?”
I looked toward the skyline.
“Because I didn’t want revenge.”
I smiled softly.
“I wanted my life back.”
Daniel nodded.
Then he asked:
“And the jet?”
I laughed for the first time in months.
