— Did he speak to her privately? When I took that call?
My mother’s expression gives me the answer.
— He took her to his study. They were gone about fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes.
More than enough time for my father to do what he does best—manipulate, intimidate, control.
A cold, steady anger rises in me. Not explosive. Not chaotic.
Focused.
— He threatened her, didn’t he? To make her walk away from me.
It’s not really a question.
— I can’t be certain, my mother says carefully.
She doesn’t need to say more.
I look down at the fragments on my desk—Archibald and Elspeth’s unfinished story. A love lost to pride and expectation.
History repeating itself.
Except this time?—
— I won’t be another Archibald, I say firmly. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life wonderingwhat if.
My mother smiles, something like pride shining in her eyes.
— What are you going to do?
I gather the items, placing them carefully back into the box.
— First, I’m going to talk to my father. Make it clear I’m not a pawn he can move around his chessboard.
— And then?
— Then I’m going to find Keira. And I’m going to get the truth. And if he threatened or manipulated her in any way, I’ll make it clear I’m willing to walk away from everything—the inheritance, the distillery, the McKenzie name itself—before I walk away from her.
My mother steps closer, placing a hand on my shoulder.
— You love her that much?
The answer comes without hesitation.
— Yeah. I do.
— Then you’re making the right choice.
She turns to leave, then pauses at the door.
— You know, she adds with a small smile, I think Hamish figured all of this out before any of us.
— Hamish?
— That sheep found a passage no one had used in over a century just to reach his beloved. He wasn’t weighed down by generations of family rivalry. He just followed his heart. Maybe we should all take a lesson from him.
