Chapter One Hundred & Forty Four

Emma could hardly believe her ears as the courtroom erupted in noise. The judge’s gavel had barely fallen when murmurs turned into a loud murmurs, echoing off the high ceilings. She stood frozen, unblinking, as the judge’s final words looped in her mind like a broken record.

"You are free to go."

The phrase seemed unreal. Free? The case had been thrown out?

She was still in a daze when a pair of arms encircled her. The familiar scent of lavender and home enveloped her as her mother pulled her into a tight embrace.

"God, you're free, Emma," her mother whispered, her voice breaking into sobs that wracked her whole body. Emma felt her mother’s tears dampening her shoulder, and she slowly lifted her arms to return the hug, her movements stiff and mechanical as if she were afraid she might shatter this fragile reality.

Her mother pulled away, her eyes red and shining with tears, and Lucas was next. He wrapped her in a bear hug, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, "It's over, Em