Nolan was still kneeling there, sobbing, but I felt nothing.
I felt none of the satisfaction of finally getting my revenge.
I felt none of the gut-wrenching pain I once had, either.
All I felt was relief.
It was the lightness of finally being completely free.
“Save the crocodile tears, Nolan.”
I looked down at him.
“You’re not crying because you lost a child.”
“And you’re not crying because you feel guilty about what you did to me.”
“You’re crying because you can’t accept that the Mara who always waited for you, who forgave you no matter what, is finally done with you.”
His head snapped up.
Fear and desperation filled his face.
“No. That’s not true, Mara. I love you. I really do…”
“Love?”
I almost laughed.
“Your love is putting another woman’s name on my life’s work.”
“Your love is trampling all over my dignity just to keep another woman happy.”
I looked at him.
“Your love is cheap, Nolan. It’s disgusting.”
Then I turned toward the wall of cameras.
“Starting today, I’m taking the core Tideweave technology with me and officially joining Professor Carter’s marine biotechnology research institute.”
“From this point forward, all Tideweave research, development, and mass production will have nothing to do with Whitaker Group.”
The camera flashes exploded again, capturing the beginning of Whitaker Group’s collapse.
Nolan sank onto the floor as though every ounce of strength had left him.
Brielle stood nearby trembling.
She knew that without Nolan protecting her, she wouldn’t last long in the industry.
Elias came to stand beside me, naturally blocking the worst of the camera flashes.
“Let’s go.”
I nodded and turned toward the exit.
“Mara!”
Nolan’s desperate shout followed me across the hall.
He tried to get up and come after me, but security held him back.
I never turned around.
With every step, my body felt lighter.
There was no longer any blade-like pain in my feet.
The spell no longer had any hold on me.
At last, I understood.
Merfolk had never needed to bear their true love’s child in order to earn human legs.
Standing on your own two feet had never been about true love.
It was about finally seeing the truth and choosing yourself.
I stepped outside into the bright sunlight.
Elias opened the car door for me.
“Any regrets?”
“About what?”
I looked at him.
“Not seeing Nolan for who he was sooner? Or not meeting you sooner?”
Elias went still.
A faint flush crept up his ears.
He cleared his throat, trying to hide it.
“Get in. There’s still a lot of data waiting for you to review at the institute.”
I slid into the car and watched the world move past the window.
Nolan and Brielle were behind me now.
There was still a long road ahead, but this time, I would walk it on my own two feet into a future that belonged entirely to me.
“Elias, let’s schedule our product launch for early next month.”
I looked at him with quiet confidence.
“Sounds good. Your call.”