Chapter 133

Silvia I sat rigid on the living room couch, my face a carefully constructed mask while my nails dug crescents into my palms. The TV news reporter finished her segment on what was supposed to be justice for Mielle. "In a surprising turn of events today, Lena Winters, mother of deceased college student Mielle Winters, has accepted the settlement offered by Frank Hudson's attorneys..." "You've got to be kidding me," Jason muttered beside me. The footage cut to Lena Winters on the courthouse steps, composed despite her glistening eyes, talking about "healing," "moving forward," and the "power of forgiveness." Frank Hudson—the drunk driver who'd plowed into Mielle's car—was walking away with community service, a temporary license suspension, and a compensation amount that wouldn't even cover decent funeral costs. Nine weeks of hearings and statements, and this was the pathetic conclusion. "Exactly like he said it would happen," I whispered, my hand instinctively moving to the small swell o