CHAPTER 20: THE MOTHER'S GAMBIT
The day after Kendra's arrest, I got a call from my mother's lawyer.
She wanted to meet. Alone. No lawyers. No media. Just her and me.
I almost said no.
But something told me to go.
We met at a small café in a neutral part of town. My mother was already sitting at a table when I arrived. She looked different. Older. Tired. The fire in her eyes had dimmed.
"Evelyn," she said. "Thank you for coming."
"I almost didn't."
"I know. But I needed to see you. Face to face."
We sat in silence for a moment. The waitress brought coffee. Neither of us touched it.
"Your mother, your father, the real estate, the embezzlement, the forgery, the lawsuit, the trust—your whole world—I just have one question, Evelyn."
"About what?"
"About me. What did I do that was so wrong? I gave you everything. I gave you a home, an education, a name. And you destroyed me."
"You destroyed yourself, Mother. I just made sure everyone could see it."
"See what? That I made mistakes? That I loved your brother more than I should have?"
"You forged my signature, Mother. You stole from me. You let Preston attack my daughter."
"I was trying to protect the family."
"You were trying to protect yourself."
She looked at me, her eyes searching my face for something. Perhaps guilt. Perhaps forgiveness. She found nothing.
"Evelyn, I know I can't undo what I did. But I want to try. I want to be part of your life again. Sophie's life."
"No."
"Please—"
"Sophie doesn't remember you. She doesn't remember the wedding. She doesn't remember the blood. And I'm not going to remind her."
"Evelyn—"
"Goodbye, Mother."
I stood up and walked away.
I didn't look back.
May you like
Because I knew, deep down, that she would never change.
And I couldn't afford to give her another chance to destroy me.
