Claire lowered her voice.
“Mom had already prepared divorce papers a month ago.”
“She’s stronger than she realizes.”
“She said you helped her make the decision.”
“Me?”
“Yes. She told me that you were the first person in the family to say out loud that enough was enough. After that, she realized she didn’t have to keep enduring things either.”
The third call came at around ten that night.
Daniel’s name appeared on Emily’s screen.
She answered.
“Emily…”
His voice was hoarse.
“I’m listening.”
“Dad is gone. The money is gone. Jason won’t talk to me. Mom filed for divorce. Claire won’t even let me come over.”
Emily leaned back in her chair.
“What exactly do you want me to say?”
“Let me come home.”
“No.”
“I understand everything now. I was wrong.”
“You don’t have a home in my apartment anymore.”
Daniel went silent.
“And this isn’t only about you being wrong,” Emily continued. “You were cruel to me. You looked me in the face and told me I should become financially dependent on you. You wanted me to earn money, hand it over, and then ask you for permission to use it.”
“Emily…”
“Then you brought your father and your brother here so all three of you could pressure me. Not once did you ask what I thought or how any of that made me feel.”
“I know. I understand that now.”
“Maybe you do.”
Emily’s voice remained calm.
“But someone else will have to find out whether you’ve really changed. I won’t.”
Daniel breathed heavily into the phone.
“I have nowhere to go.”
“You have a brother. You have a job. And now you have an opportunity to develop something you should have been using years ago.”
“What?”
“Your own judgment.”
“Emily, please.”
