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Matilda draws in a sharp breath.
“That’s right. You don’t get a penny if we divorce,” my father says in satisfaction.
Matilda narrows her gaze on my father. “I am your wife; you can’t treat me like this.”
“And Mira is my daughter. When I married you, I told you she was the most important thing in my life. I told you I wanted you to be a mother to her. Yet you mistreated her all these years.”
“I did my best,” Matilda snaps.
“And it wasn’t enough.”
“Don’t blame me for your shortcomings,” Matilda says in a low voice.
“You’re right, it’s my fault. I was too caught up in my grief. I was so self-absorbed I didn't intervene, even though I sensed my daughter was unhappy. But thanks to Edward, I realize I can make amends.” My father looks between Eleanor and Kate, “I take responsibility for how the two of you turned out. I was an absent parent. I should have intervened in how your mother brought the two of you up. For that reason, I won’t disinherit the both of you from my will. But consider yourselves warned. I expect to see changes in your attitude and your behavior toward your older sister. You'd do well to remember, sheisyour sister. And I love all of my girls. You, on the other hand”—he turns to Matilda—“I’m contemplating changing my will, so you don’t see a penny of my fortune.”
“You can’t do this.” Matilda purses her lips.
“Oh, I can, and I will. Unless—”
“Unless?” Matilda frowns.
“Unless Mirabelle tells me not to.”
Matilda stiffens. She curls her fingers at her sides, then slowly straightens them out, before she turns to face me. “I am your stepmother. I did the best I could with you, but you were a difficult child. Always sad, always overeating. What was I supposed to do?”
I look away. All of my life, I wanted a chance for things to change between me and my father’s wife and their children. I hoped, one day, they’d accept me as part of the family. I hoped… I’d be accepted by them, get their love. Maybe that’s why I decided to go home after graduation, while I was looking for a job. It was a last-ditch effort to get their approval. A final bid to find the belonging I’d always yearned for. But it’s not the reason I turn to my father and say, "You don’t need to cut her out completely.”
72
Edward
"You’re too forgiving.” Cyril takes Belle’s hand in his. “Anyone else in your position would have taken the opportunity to hit them where it hurts most, but not you.”
After she made that announcement, I told her stepmother and half-sisters to leave. They marched off, similar expressions of petulance and arrogance on their features. Not one of them thanked her. Not one of them acknowledged her generosity.
Her father watched them go with a resigned expression before taking my wife’s hand in his. "I am so sorry for everything you went through. I knew she wasn’t doing right by you. I knew the three of them were making you unhappy. I knew it was my responsibility to stop them, but I didn’t. I should have stepped in earlier. I should have told them to back down. I—" His eyes gleam with unshed tears. "I failed you. I failed your mother."
"No, you didn’t." My wife goes into his arms. "You did well, Daddy. You were struggling with your grief. I know how much you miss Mama. It couldn’t have been easy for you."
"I knew I wouldn’t be able to take care of you. I was barely functioning, myself. Barely able to get through every day. It’s why I married her. I hoped she’d be a good mother to you. Instead, I ended up hurting you."
"Don’t apologize, Dad, please. You did your best."
"But it wasn’t enough. I am so sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. So sorry, I put the interests of my company before your happiness. I am so sorry I put pressure on you to fulfill the obligation of an arranged marriage. I should have allowed you to choose your own life partner. Instead, I used you as leverage. Can you ever forgive me for it?"
"There’s nothing to forgive." She sniffles.
He steps back and surveys her features. "If you’re not happy"—he glares at me, then back at my wife—"if you want out of this arrangement, you only have to tell me. I’ll give up everything to see you content."
"I’m… I’m…" She swallows. "I’m happy."
The tension drains out of my shoulders. I’m not sure what I was expecting her to say—that she hates her life. That she's trapped. ThatItrapped her? ThatIdestroyed her life? If she wants to leave me, this is the chance. With her father’s help, she could start a new life. She could file for divorce, and I wouldn’t contest it,if…that’s what she wants. I’ll never go a single moment without thinking of her, butifshe wants to be free of me… I won't stand in her way.
"You sure?" Cyril looks at her closely. "If you want to leave him—"
"I’m good, really."
He surveys her face again, then nods, before turning to look at me. "If you do anything to upset her, you’ll have me to contend with."
