Page 90 of Dead to Me

“If they clear her, at least people will know the truth.”

I smiled.

“Yes.”

They would. The strange thing was, it didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t need Milan’s name now. China’s name offered more.

After we hung up, I walked downstairs.

White roses sat on my front porch. I stared at them from across the foyer.

For a moment, I was back at The Bellamy. The memory faded. I walked over and brought the flowers inside.

I picked up the card.

Thinking of you MILAN. Stay strong.

I read the card twice. There was no name. My eyes lifted toward the gates at the end of the long driveway, of course nobody was there.

Whoever had been texting me had been sending little messages. They had always known. I balled the card up and threw it away. A smile eased on my face.

I took the roses inside and to the back patio area. The evening air felt warm. I walked barefoot across the stone patio and stopped by the pool.

From there, I could see almost the entire property. There were nights in prison when I could touch both walls of my cell without taking two steps. Now I had a house with rooms I hadn’t entered in weeks.

Maybe that was justice. Maybe it was something worse. I didn’t care anymore.

My phone vibrated. A news alert appeared.

MILAN HART EXPECTED TO BE POSTHUMOUSLY EXONERATED IN JEREMY VOSS MURDER

I read the headline twice, then opened the article. There was an old photo of me underneath. I was twenty-four. I barely recognized her. That Milan believed the truth mattered. She thought innocent people would go home. She believed sisters looked out for each other. She believed the man beside her loved her. Poor girl. She had no idea what was ahead.

I closed the article. My reflection appeared in the dark screen

I smiled. China once used my face and took six years from me. I used hers just once and took everything she had.

Everyone thought Milan Hart was dead. Soon, they would also believe she was innocent.

I threw the white roses into the outdoor fireplace and watched the petals curl in the flames. Then I raised my champagne glass.

“To Milan.”

I took a sip. The bubbles burned in a good way as I swallowed. I glanced back at the mansion shining behind me. I smiled. She was gone from my life, but everything she owned was still here.

THE END