Chapter 26 - The next banquet
Eleven months after the ruined birthday, we held a family charity dinner at the mansion.
Not Primrose’s next birthday.
Same hall.
Same marble.
Different tables.
Genevieve attended.
Probation allowed.
Her council suspension remained.
Felix came.
Primrose wore a blue dress.
No cream.
Coincidence.
At dessert, staff brought individual cakes.
Small.
No enormous centerpiece.
Felix whispered to Primrose.
Then they switched plates because she wanted chocolate and he wanted vanilla.
Genevieve saw.
So did I.
No one made it symbolic.
Then an elderly cousin said:
“Ah, the two future heirs.”
I turned.
Before I could speak, Genevieve answered:
“They’re children.”
The cousin blinked.
“Yes, of course.”
Then she added:
“They can decide what they want when they’re older.”
I looked at her.
She did not look back.
Behavior without asking for applause.
Later she approached me.
“Adrian filed for divorce.”
I had heard.
Not my business.
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
“I’m sorry for Felix.”
She nodded.
Then:
“Adrian wants joint decision-making after release.”
“He’s still Felix’s father.”
“I know.”
She smiled bitterly.
“You sound like my lawyer.”
“Good lawyers are useful.”
Then she asked:
“Do you think people will ever stop seeing me as the woman who forged Dad’s trust?”
“You didn’t physically forge it.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
I thought.
“No.”
She laughed once.
“Fair.”
Then:
“You?”
“What about me?”
“Will people stop seeing you as the Mafia Boss?”
“No.”
“Does that bother you?”
I looked at Primrose dancing with Felix near the band.
“More than it used to.”
That was true.
May you like
Not enough to rewrite my life.
Enough to notice.
