“I did the right thing.”
“Claire was always overreacting,” Mark continued. “She’d get upset, threaten to leave, spend money we didn’t have. Somebody had to be the responsible one. I was trying to stop her from making another stupid decision.”
The room went quiet for a moment.
“And then you betrayed me,” Mark said in a dangerously soft tone. “We were going to have a family, and you ruined it.”
“I was trying to stop her from making another stupid decision.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“If helping Claire leave means I betrayed you, then yes. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Mark turned toward Evan.
“Where is she? Your mother kept you from me. She needs to answer for that.”
“She’s dead,” Evan replied.
Mark stopped. He seemed to take a moment to process the news, then he nodded.
“Okay… but I’m still your father. You’re still my son.”
