Chapter 15
Edmund eventually asked to see me.
Not as protected man.
Just Jessamine’s father.
We met at his smaller house.
No guards from me.
He poured whiskey.
I declined.
He laughed.
“Still suspicious.”
“Always.”
Then he said:
“I hated you.”
That surprised me.
“When?”
“Year three.”
“Why?”
“Because every safe day reminded me I needed you.”
There.
The hidden resentment inside dependency.
He wanted protection.
Then hated the person whose existence proved he needed it.
So he built influence.
A way to become equal.
Maybe superior.
“Why not tell me?”
He smiled sadly.
“Pride.”
Fair.
Then:
“I taught Jessamine the same thing.”
“What?”
“That owing someone is dangerous.”
He looked down.
“So she learned to make other people owe her first.”
There it was.
Generational control in one sentence.
He apologized for using the engagement politically.
Not for wanting a voice.
Good distinction.
I accepted neither nor rejected.
He did not need ceremonial forgiveness.
He needed to live differently.
Before leaving, he asked:
“Will you marry her?”
“I don’t know.”
He smiled.
May you like
“Good.”
First time he understood the answer.
