But I had also been deceived about what happened afterward.
Both things could be true.
The distinction mattered.
It did not absolve me.
The following morning, I called Richard.
He answered on the second ring.
“Adrian. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I found your email about Marianne’s pregnancy.”
The silence was immediate.
“What email?”
“Don’t insult me, Richard. I have it in front of me.”
He exhaled.
“I was following your father’s instructions.”
“Did you intercept her letters?”
“I handled the correspondence as instructed.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Your father believed contact would only make matters worse.”
“For whom?”
He didn’t respond.
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
“Did you know she had twins?”
“No.”
“Did you tell her I refused to speak to her?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
The admission landed like a blow.
“Did I ever tell you to do that?”
“You had signed the divorce agreement. Your father said you wanted a clean break.”
