Chapter 14 - The Last ConversationAfter the verdict, Margaret requested one private conversation with Daniel.
He almost refused.
Then he agreed.
They sat behind a glass partition at the detention center.
Margaret looked older.
Smaller.
Without her jewelry, designer clothing, and authority, she seemed almost like a stranger.
"You destroyed everything," she whispered.
Daniel stared at her.
"No."
"You took my company."
"It was never yours."
"You took my family."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You destroyed your family."
Margaret looked down.
"Do you hate me?"
Daniel was silent for a long time.
"No."
Her eyes lifted.
"I think that's worse."
Daniel stood.
"I hope one day you understand what you did."
He walked toward the door.
"Daniel."
He stopped.
Margaret's voice cracked.
"Was I ever a good mother?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
For one painful second, the little boy inside him remembered her holding his hand.
Then he remembered Ava on the floor.
"I don't know."
May you like
He left.
And this time, he did not look back.
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