Spotlight on the Mirror

Chapter Twenty-Nine

With every person that contributed to Natasha's trauma either behind bars or dead, it was truly time to start the healing process. Those despicable individuals were all found guilty and sentenced to spend many years in prison. Even if some were released before their deaths, they would have to register on the sex offender list and abide by very strict rules in the highest form.

After all the civil trials, Natasha was awarded all of her earnings from Wanda including the trust fund established by the Ryans family. Because the contract was signed between the Ryans and Wanda, Natasha was able to keep the trust fund and receive Peter's entire inheritance. Anything else owned by Wanda also went to Natasha. She eventually sold Wanda's home with everything in it except for her trophies and awards. Natasha was also awarded monetary settlements from most of the perpetrators and from the Louisiana Victim's Fund. At the end of everything, Natasha was considered a multi-millionaire but she could care less.

Listening to Mrs. Hemsworth advice, Natasha hired an personal accountant so she wouldn't have to worry about dealing with the large amount of money that she had received. Surprisingly, Mrs. Hemsworth never charged Natasha a single cent in all of the years of representation. Even though Mrs. Hemsworth could have been just as rich because her retainer was $30,000.00 then $500.00 per hour, Holliday believed that Natasha's justice meant more to her.

After almost two years of trials, Natasha finally checked out and suffered a nervous breakdown. She was checked into a rehab center for depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Natasha remained there for months while fully involving herself into intensive therapy. Accepting that what she had endured wasn't her fault and learning to forgive herself was her biggest challenges. Natasha finally reached a place of peace and was released six months later. She felt stronger and had achieved a process for her healing. While in rehab, Natasha decided to write a book about her entire ordeal so that her story could be told in her own words. She learned that writing was great therapy and kept her grounded.

She even hyphenated her last name to Dole-Ryans. Natasha really wanted to relate to her father as much as she could. Madison then joked that Natasha would happen to change her last name just as she was about to became Mrs. Zeal.

After rehab, Natasha moved back in with Madison and Holliday and starting working out again. She missed dancing and the familiar comfort of the upbeat Jazz style. Instead of using dance as an escape, it proved to be another form of therapy. Natasha loved dancing out any type of emotion and always felt relieved when she could lose herself within the deep soul of the music.

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Walking in on her surprise twenty-forth birthday party made Holliday feel so loved. Everyone that she deeply treasured was there except for her own mom. Their relationship was still strained but at that moment, Holliday still wasn't bothered. She was surrounded by family and friends that cared for her and she felt amazing. The party was thrown at a popular nightclub with a ice room. It was personalized just for her and Holliday knew that a lot of time was spent to make her birthday feel special. She now realized why Madison and Natasha were being so secretive with her dad and Mendall.

Holliday was shocked to learn that on top of party, her dad had purchased her a new car. A few days ago, he took her old car to have it "serviced" but had actually traded it in for a newer one. Mendall gave her over $500.00 in different gift cards for various clothing stores and shops for beauty products. Madison gave her the keys to the condo and was in the process of turning over ownership to Holliday and Natasha.

Due to her upcoming wedding, Madison planned to move in with Dallas permanently so she didn't have any use for the condo. Surprisingly, Natasha purchased matching and engraved charm bracelets from Tiffany & Co. for both Holliday and Madison. The engravement only had one word but it meant everything. It read, Sisters. Holliday started to cry which completely destroyed her make-up but she didn't care.