Pride bloomed in my chest the moment the notification dropped.Paycheck deposited: $6,847.32

My first real check from the remote job. It felt surreal. My life was really back to normal. No ankle monitor restrictions, no legal drama hanging over my head, and I still have my man who's madly in love with me.

It is time to do something that has been in the back of my head for a while now.

Take Lucien out!

The restaurant reservations took two phone calls and name-dropping Lucien Hayes, which felt ...