Chapter 14
Marcus apologized to Alina after eighteen months.
Not sooner.
She refused the first request.
Second too.
Third, yes.
He came alone.
No suit jacket.
Strange detail.
Maybe he wanted to look less like his father.
He apologized for the planted medallion.
For helping preserve the Bell story after he knew it was false.
For stepping between me and Ramona instead of stopping her.
Then:
“For thinking your marriage to Lorenzo meant you should be grateful enough not to ask questions.”
Alina looked at him.
“That one.”
He frowned.
“That one what?”
“That’s the part you actually believed.”
He nodded.
Yes.
She did not forgive him aloud.
Did not need to.
Marcus left.
Changed behavior mattered later.
He stopped calling non-Carbone spouses “attachments.”
May you like
Small word.
Large worldview.
