Chapter 7
Inside the house, the dinner party died quietly.
No one knew how to restart conversation.
The roast cooled.
The candles burned unevenly.
Chelsea poured herself wine with a hand that shook only once.
Logan remained near the front door long after the car disappeared.
One guest finally stood.
“We should probably go.”
Chelsea forced a laugh.
“That’s unnecessary.”
But the guest had already picked up his coat.
Another followed.
Then the couple nearest the dining-room arch.
No one wanted dessert in a house where an old man had been expelled while carrying the financial ghost of the family.
When the door closed after the last guest, Chelsea turned on Logan.
“You humiliated me.”
Logan stared at her.
“We threw my father out.”
“You agreed.”
“I was wrong.”
Chelsea’s face hardened.
“Don’t do that now.”
“Do what?”
“Act noble because you’re scared of some old paperwork.”
Logan looked toward the foyer.
The space where Albert had stood seemed almost marked.
“I’m not scared of paperwork.”
“Yes, you are.”
He did not answer.
Because she was right.
He was terrified of what the paperwork might say.
Not only because of money.
Because the documents might prove Albert had been father, lender, guarantor, safety net, and silent foundation while Logan allowed Chelsea to treat him like an unwanted tenant.
Chelsea set down the wineglass.
“Whatever he has, we’ll handle it.”
Logan looked at her.
“How?”
The question exposed the real problem.
For years, handle it had meant call Albert.
Ask Albert.
Delay Albert.
Promise Albert.
Now Albert had removed himself from the room.
May you like
And the life they called theirs had begun to feel unsupported.
Read the full story 👉 Once the guests left, Logan finally understood that “handling it” had always meant calling the father he had just let walk away.
