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She knew her parents blamed her and for sometime she also blamed herself. She came back home every Easter, Christmas and Summer holiday but her relationship with her parents were strained. Her mother tried to make up for it but she wasn't that kid anymore. She loved her parents and all but she was still hurt from everything. They even tried to transfer her from her school back to America but she wasn't interested anymore. She had come to love her school. Although she hated the doctrines and the punishment, she became used to it. The nuns were the worst part of her stay. Their strictness and love for absolute obedience and holiness made her their normal candidate for punishment. She learned to make a few friends who shared her rebellion spirit and hatred for restraints.

Alice, whose father was a Duke in London and was ashamed of his hot-tempered daughter. Rachel, with her innocent face but was the craftiest of minds and Abigail, the chaplain's niece who was the opposite of everything holy. The three of them made her stay bearable as they were something she never had in forever.

Friends.

Graduating from The Lady of Fatima College was one of the best and worst days of Laura's life. She was happy to leave this place especially as she just got accepted by Harvard to study law. But she would also miss her friends and the shenanigans the pulled together. She was sixteen and she was going to the university studying the course of her dreams. Her life has never been more perfect.

Or so she thought.

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She remembers that day like it was yesterday. It was a day she wished never happened.

She just came back from her second semester break in her sophomore year. She needed some of her old books so she went to the basement. She was supposed to go grocery shopping with her mother but she knew she had to find the book first because grocery shopping for her mom meant a day talking to everyone they met at Gail's store.

She remembered seeing a folder covered with dust. Forgotten and abandoned. It was hidden in a way like it was not meant to be found. Behind a cupboard covered in dust and cobwebs she pulled it out.

Confidential. It read.

She knew it was wrong to open it but her curiosity was too much. She needed to know. And she regretted it. It was the papers for her adoption. She, Laura Katherine Montez was adopted. A closed adoption. And in her seventeen years on this earth they never told her. It started to make sense to her. How her parents were so happy when they had the baby. How they couldn't look at her when the lost the baby. How they sent her, no, banished her, a ten year old child to a strange country, in a strange land without any consideration. She now knew why no matter how she cried her parents could overlook it and tell her it was for her own good.

She remembered how she cried and marched up to her mother's room demanding an explanation. She shouted and cursed and screamed until she couldn't talk anymore. Then she stormed out of the house and never came back. Luckily for her, her father had already taken care of her college fees. She cut herself from her family and started her life from the scratch. That was when she met Rhonda and Nathan.

Many people said she was over reacting and would soon come back and apologize to her parents but she proved them wrong. She survived on her own and made a name for herself without anyone's help. She knew she should have forgiven her parents but it wasn't easy. She had blamed herself for so many things growing up and it created a dent in her. She was never enough and she knew it. Maybe that was why her relationships never worked. Even as a grown woman who recently lost her child, she understands the pain and all but she still can't forgive them. She was just a child who was trying to help her mother and wrote a stupid sentence in her book that many children think when they have a new sibling. She didn't deserve it and she couldn't let the thought out of her head that if it was him that was in her position they would have forgiven him.

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Dinner was over and her mother insisted that she should not join her in clearing the table.

"Go outside with your father. Susanne just came in she would help me clean up." Anna said referring to their housekeeper.

Laura and her father sat outside at the porch. She remembered when they used to sit here at night with her telescope naming the stars.

"It's still very beautiful from here." Laura said as she stood up and looked at the sky. She always loved the view of the stars from here.

Her father chuckled. "Your mother always says that whenever she comes out here."

Laura smiled. Guess she got her love for nature from her mother. Standing here looking at the stars was very therapeutic. It was making her almost forget any problems in her life. Almost.

"I spoke to the DA yesterday." Cristobal randomly said as he stood beside her looking at nothing in particular.

Laura cocked her brows unsure of where the conversation was going to.

"I understand you are still trying to investigate the Devina's case." He said sensing her confusion.

That statement created a bunch of revelations to Laura. It all started to make sense. The sudden invitation, her mother's dramatic scene in her office for her to come to dinner, the meals, why her mother was adamant to send her outside. All of it. And for once she taught they cared. Immediately her walls were built back up.

"I know what you're thinking Laura. You think that we called you here for that and even though you are not completely correct, you are not wrong either." He said.

So he is not denying it. "I still don't understand how that has anything to do with you." She finally said.

"Laura, your mother and I love you very much contrary to what you believe. And when we heard you were taking a case that was life threatening we had no other choice but to step in. I know it was ruled as suicide but if what you are saying about it being a cultic activity then we had to step in. Your mother invited you by September and I only saw your boss last week so don't think we just invited you because of that. The only reason your mother came to your office last week, I admit, is because of it."

She brought down a little of her wall. Still high enough for people not to easily penetrate but lower than before.

"I still don't know why Brain didn't have the brain to keep his mouth shut." Brain Berners being her boss and Nathan's father.

Her father gave a small smile at what she said but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. His expression because serious again. "You know Laura, there is no such thing as the truth. The only truth is what you think is the truth. The word truth is very personal, everyone with theirs. Some people are comfortable with their truth even if it is a complete lie. But how can you prove it is? If I saw my name is Richie and nobody knows otherwise then for you that is the truth. That is how life is." For someone else his message may have seemed senseless but she understood completely.

"They are only comfortable with it because it is all they see. If you show them another side of the truth then they wouldn't have a choice but to accept the real truth."

He shook his head with his hands at his back. At that moment he knew there was nothing he would say that would change his daughter's mind for she was as strong headed as her mother. But he was her father whether she believed it or not and he had to try. "Laura, sometimes you have to let some things go. It doesn't make you corrupt or unjust but it helps save a lot of things you may be unaware of. Sometimes you have to measure the risk and worth of everything. Is the dead more important than the living? Painful but essential decisions."

She looked at her father. He may have meant well but that didn't stop her temper from flaring.

"If we continue making such measurements every time then why are we living? People and killed unjustly and those who are supposed to bring justice are busy making measurements. How will people live freely when they know that there is no system to protect and give them justice? Do you ever think of the families left behind? The friends and loved ones? No. Nobody thinks of how the people would feel especially when no justice is served. We may think that the living is better than the dead which sounds like a reasonable argument but a person empty with nothing except grief, pain and hopelessness is as good as dead."

"I know how you feel about Devina. I know she was a good and jubilant person and can see why you are not letting it go but I advise you to take what you have. Sometimes justice is not as black and white as it seems. Sometimes it can have some crooks and turns too."

Laura picked something she never knew before from his statement choosing to ignore the rest. "You knew Devina?" She asked still very shocked by that information.

An emotion passed through his face almost immediately making Laura assume she imagined it. "I met her once when she and her group members held a charity event in town. She was the host and I could feel her energy and friendly nature from a distance." He said like he was talking about an old friend.

"When was that?" Her curious nature creeped me in.

"Sometime last year. It was a shock when I got the news she was dead." A sad look flashed in his eyes.

"Then I'm sure you understand my need for justice. I know what you're going to say but I will not listen. I know I'm right. No matter how impossible it may look now but I know the two cases are linked together and I'm going to find out. You among all people should know nothing is going to change my mind."

There was silence between them for a few moments until laughter erupted from her father. "You are my daughter after all. Like anything would change your mind. I knew I was just wasting my time from the beginning but don't blame your old man for trying." Patting her shoulder he smiled at her. "I trust you would do the right thing and be safe. Now let's get inside before your mother drags us by herself. She is so excited that you are spending the night here." After saying that he entered inside the house.

Laura looked up the sky one last time and gave a large sigh. She knew she wasn't planning on listening to everything her dad said but maybe she would consider one thing. Maybe he and her crazy doctor were right about one thing.

It was time to start letting things go. Time to leave the past behind.