Chapter 3
Roman did not explode.
That terrified Helena more.
He read every page of the placement contract.
Private residential care.
Long-term placement.
Restricted family contact.
The language was polite.
The intent was not.
Roman placed the file down.
“Who signed this?”
Helena folded her hands.
“I did.”
Veronica looked at her.
Adrian looked away.
Roman watched all three.
“Why?”
Helena’s mouth hardened.
“She was becoming impossible.”
Roman’s breathing changed.
Very slightly.
Helena noticed.
She lifted her chin anyway.
“She cried constantly. Refused meals. Screamed for you. Disrupted staff.”
Roman’s voice dropped.
“She was three.”
“She needed structure.”
“She needed her father.”
“You were gone.”
Roman’s fingers curled once against the table.
Then relaxed.
“You told her I was dead.”
Helena’s eyes flashed.
“Because waiting for you was destroying her.”
Roman stood.
Veronica flinched.
Helena did not.
That was her mistake.
She was still certain blood protected her.
Roman walked slowly around the table.
His shoes stopped directly behind his mother’s chair.
He did not touch her.
Helena’s shoulders stiffened anyway.
“You made her believe I was dead so she'd stop asking for me.”
Silence.
Then Helena said:
“Yes.”
The admission changed the room.
Veronica’s eyes closed for half a second.
Adrian’s face tightened.
Roman stared at his mother.
“And the maid uniform?”
Helena looked away.
“She needed discipline.”
Roman’s jaw moved.
Veronica finally spoke.
“I didn't agree with that.”
Roman turned.
Her breathing stopped.
“You watched.”
Veronica’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“I tried to stop Helena.”
Helena laughed.
“You did not.”
Veronica looked at her sharply.
Roman saw the panic pass between them.
Something was cracking.
He stepped closer to Veronica.
“What did you agree with?”
She swallowed.
“Sophie leaving.”
Roman stopped.
The words hit harder than Helena’s confession.
Veronica continued quickly.
“Temporarily.”
“Where?”
“The placement.”
Roman’s expression emptied.
“You were going to marry me.”
Her eyes filled.
“I thought you were dead.”
“You were going to become Sophie’s stepmother.”
“I know.”
“And your answer to her grief was to send her away.”
Veronica looked down.
Roman let the silence remain.
Then the accountant cleared his throat.
“There’s something else.”
Roman turned.
The Haven contract contained a private funding guarantee.
If Sophie remained in placement for six months, control of one of Roman’s trusts would shift.
Not to Helena.
May you like
Not to Adrian.
To Veronica.
