Chapter 11

Two weeks later, I settled into my new residence—a high-end flat in the urban center that set me back more than five million dollars. The apartment was everything I had envisioned: roomy, contemporary, and situated high above the lively streets below. At last, I had a place to call my own, a refuge where no one could encroach on my meticulously crafted world.

Even after the substantial purchase, I still had three million dollars remaining in my account, more than sufficient to maintain my lavish spending habits for the foreseeable future. That financial buffer became my source of assurance, a constant reminder that I had established a space for myself, free from dependence on others.

My parents hadn't contacted me again, likely because Abigail had given them a stern warning to keep their distance. I was deeply grateful to her for that. Without her intervention, I wasn't certain how I would have managed their overwhelming presence in my life.