Kaisan sat on the couch, small legs swinging.
"Mom… I don't get it," he said quietly.
Jay looked at him, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
"What, baby?"
"Why… if you have all this… money… power… why did you stay with Papa? Why didn't you just leave him earlier?"
Jay's smile was soft, tinged with a sadness she couldn't hide.
"Sweetheart… sometimes, even when you have power, it doesn't make decisions easy. Back then… I thought maybe… I could change things. Maybe… we could have a family together. I wanted Kaisan to have a father… even if it was just the name."
Kaisan's small eyes widened.
"But… Mom… he hurt you."
"I know, baby. I know now. But love… sometimes it makes you blind, even to yourself. Even I didn't see clearly back then. I thought staying might make things better. But it didn't. Not for me, not for you."
Kaisan leaned against her, tiny hand clutching hers.
"So… it wasn't about money?"
Jay shook her head. "No, baby. Money… power… none of that matters if someone doesn't respect you. I stayed… because I hoped love could fix it. But I learned… love alone isn't enough."
Kaisan thought for a moment, voice small but steady.
"Mom… then we're really free now."
Jay smiled, eyes glimmering with tears.
"Yes, baby. We are free. Safe. And from now on… only happiness. Only us."
The sun streamed through the windows of their new home, warm and golden.
Jay held Kaisan close, heart steady for the first time in years.
Even with power, wealth, or secrets… she understood now what truly mattered.
Love. Safety. And family.
Kaisan whispered, resting his head on her shoulder:
"I love you, Mom."
"And I love you, Kaisan. More than anything."
They sat together in the quiet, safe in their home… finally knowing they could survive anything, as long as they had each other.
The courthouse smelled of polished wood and cold metal, but Jay barely noticed.
Kaisan held her hand tightly, small fingers curled around hers, eyes wide and serious.
"Mom… are we really doing this?" he whispered.
Jay squeezed his hand gently. "Yes, baby. It's over. We're free now."
Lucas sat across the table, indifferent, flipping through his phone.
"Don't think this changes anything," he muttered, voice low.
Jay's eyes met his, calm but firm. "Everything changes now. You won't control us anymore."
The lawyer handed over the final papers. Jay signed with a steady hand, Kaisan watching every stroke.
"Mom… that means we're really done?" he asked.
"Yes, sweetheart. Done. Forever."
Lucas smirked. "Good luck surviving without me."
Jay stood, pulling Kaisan close. "We won't need luck. We have each other. And that's enough."
As they walked out of the courthouse, the sun seemed warmer, brighter.
Kaisan skipped a little, looking up at her.
"Mom… we're free!"
Jay smiled, heart swelling. "Yes, baby. We're finally free."
For the first time in years, Jay felt lighter.
Safer.
Unchained.
And beside her, Kaisan's small hand in hers reminded her that everything she had fought for… was finally real.
They stepped into the sunlight together, ready to begin the next chapter of their lives.