Chapter 9
Valeria asked to speak with Margaret alone.
My mother refused.
Good.
Valeria looked wounded.
Also good.
Boundaries often feel cruel to people used to access.
“I want to apologize.”
Margaret adjusted Ava’s cardigan.
“You can do that from there.”
Valeria swallowed.
Then began.
Not elegantly.
That helped.
She admitted she had known Luca hated Margaret’s knowledge.
She admitted she asked about Ava’s routines because Luca wanted to understand household security.
She admitted she told herself no one would ever hurt Ava.
My mother stopped her.
“You do not get credit for assuming the men you helped would remain gentle around a child once they needed leverage.”
Valeria closed her eyes.
Exactly.
Intent again.
The favorite shelter of people who provide dangerous men with access.
Then Margaret said something I did not expect.
“You did love my son.”
Valeria started crying.
“Yes.”
“That makes what you did more frightening.”
Valeria looked up.
My mother continued.
“If you hated him, betrayal would be simple. You loved him and still convinced yourself you could choose which lies he was allowed to live inside.”
Silence.
That sentence reached me too.
Because I had done smaller versions of the same thing.
With Ava.
Protecting her from details.
With Margaret.
Keeping business worries away because she was older.
Love can become control if nobody watches the line.
I looked at my mother.
She caught my expression.
“You too.”
I almost smiled.
Of course.
“Later.”
She nodded.
Valeria removed her engagement ring.
Placed it on the desk.
Not dramatically.
“I know there’s no wedding.”
“No.”
Her lips trembled.
“Was there ever a chance after the photograph?”
I thought.
“The kiss ended trust.”
Then:
“What you planned around Ava ended the future.”
She nodded.
No argument.
Good.
Lucian laughed from where he sat under guard.
“Very touching.”
I looked at him.
“You’re still here because I haven’t decided what losing access looks like for you.”
May you like
His smile disappeared.
Sometimes one sentence is enough.
