“I already threw away thirteen years with my daughters.”
He had no answer.
For the first time, I stopped allowing his approval to determine whether I believed I was doing the right thing.
My marriage to Cordelia deteriorated rapidly.
She insisted that Chloe and Sophie were trying to take Penelope’s inheritance.
I explained that I had made no promises about my estate and would not make decisions about the girls’ future without their consent.
Cordelia accused me of humiliating her.
She said the competition had exposed our family to gossip.
She demanded that I issue a public statement clarifying that Chloe and Sophie had no claim on our household.
I refused.
“They are my daughters,” I said. “I won’t deny them to protect your image.”
She stared at me as though I had slapped her.
“You’re choosing them over us.”
“No,” I replied. “I’m choosing to stop pretending that my choices have no consequences.”
