Chapter 14
Imogen changed slowly.
No family role.
No access to money.
No influence.
She started therapy.
Not my business.
Then work outside Harrington.
Also not mine.
Lila saw her every few months.
By choice.
Lucy eventually joined one visit.
Interesting.
She had hated Imogen more openly than Lila.
Because Lucy remembered the wardrobe.
The bread crushed outside.
Being told she would starve too.
Imogen apologized specifically.
Lucy asked:
“Why you mean?”
Imogen answered:
“Because I was scared someone would take Lila away.”
Lucy frowned.
“But you took her.”
Silence.
Again.
Children destroy adult logic in one sentence.
Imogen nodded.
“Yes.”
That was the first time Lucy hugged her afterward.
Not because apology erased anything.
Because Imogen stopped defending contradiction.
Colin never saw the girls.
He requested twice.
They both said no when asked separately.
Important.
No twin package decision.
Each girl had her own answer.
Margaret eventually earned one supervised visit.
Lila sat far away.
Lucy closer.
Margaret accepted it.
No forced affection.
No “kiss Grandma.”
No family theater.
Progress.
The old Harrington elders complained children had too much choice.
May you like
I removed two of them from advisory roles.
Amazing how often adults reveal themselves when children stop being obedient props.
