Chapter 16
Victoria asked to see me in jail.
I almost refused.
Then Marisol said, “Closure is useful only if you control the door.”
So I went.
Victoria entered behind the glass wearing county orange and fury.
Not shame.
Fury.
“You turned my daughter against me.”
“Our daughter.”
Her mouth tightened.
“So you know.”
“I know everything.”
She sat slowly.
For once, she did not have a script ready.
“Why?” I asked.
She laughed.
“You want one reason? Fine. Because you were convenient.”
I let the words land.
She continued.
“You loved too easily. You wanted a family so badly you didn’t question why a woman with a baby appeared at exactly the right time.”
“She was my baby.”
“Yes,” she snapped. “And that ruined everything.”
My hands curled under the table.
“You knew from the beginning.”
“I knew enough.”
“You let Raymond claim her.”
“He wanted her.”
“No. He wanted access.”
She looked away.
I saw it then.
Not guilt.
Resentment.
“Did you ever love Sabrina?”
Her eyes flashed.
“How dare you?”
“Answer.”
“She was mine.”
“That is not the same.”
Victoria leaned toward the glass.
“You think you’re noble because you made dresses and paid bills? You loved being needed. I gave you that.”
“No. You sold me my own child.”
Her face went pale.
That one finally cut.
I stood.
She pressed a hand to the glass.
“Glenn, wait.”
I stopped.
“Monday’s mortgage plan was Raymond’s idea. I wouldn’t have left you with nothing.”
I looked back.
“You already did.”
She frowned.
I said, “You left me with memories I can’t trust.”
Then I walked out.
In the hallway, Sabrina waited against Marisol’s advice.
Her eyes were red.
“Did she say she loved me?”
I could have softened it.
I didn’t.
“She said you were hers.”
Sabrina closed her eyes.
“That sounds like her.”
Then she whispered, “I don’t want to belong to people like that anymore.”
“You belong to yourself first.”
She looked at me.
“And maybe one day to this family again?”
May you like
I nodded.
“Maybe. If we rebuild it honestly.”
