Chapter 4 - THE ROOM WITH NO WINDOWS
Daniel followed me into the study.
He closed the door.
"Mom."
I didn't turn around.
"Please."
I placed the forged application on my desk.
"Why?"
He stood behind me.
"We were desperate."
"You had access to my accounts?"
"No."
"You used my property."
"I was going to pay you back."
"With what?"
Silence.
I turned.
"When were you planning to tell me?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"When everything worked out."
I laughed softly.
"Daniel, do you hear yourself?"
He looked ashamed.
For the first time that night, I saw the little boy I remembered.
Not the man who had smirked in my kitchen.
Not the stranger who let his wife insult me.
My son.
Still buried beneath years of selfish choices.
"I gave you a home," I whispered.
"I know."
"I gave you time."
"I know."
"I protected you when your business failed."
"I know."
"So why did you try to steal the one thing I had left?"
His eyes filled.
"It wasn't supposed to be stealing."
I stared at him.
"Then what was it?"
"Survival."
I shook my head.
"No."
I pointed toward the document.
"It was entitlement."
He flinched.
Before he could respond, Vanessa opened the door.
"We're leaving?"
Her expression had changed.
The rage was gone.
Fear had replaced it.
"I'll give you some time," I said.
She stared at me.
"You really mean it."
"Yes."
She looked around the study.
At the shelves of law books.
The family photographs.
My husband's portrait.
Then she whispered, "You'll regret this."
I answered quietly.
"No."
She frowned.
May you like
"I already regretted waiting this long."
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