Chapter 14 - Richard’s Failure
Rebecca moved into Richard’s estate with Emma.
She slept badly.
Every sound in the hallway woke her.
When Richard approached too quickly, she flinched.
He noticed.
One evening, he sat across from her in the library.
“I failed you.”
Rebecca looked up.
“I should have visited sooner.”
“You believed Trevor.”
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
Richard struggled with the answer.
“Because accepting the truth meant admitting I had welcomed him into your life.”
Richard had introduced Rebecca to Trevor at a business event.
He admired Trevor’s ambition.
He encouraged the marriage despite Rebecca’s early doubts.
When Trevor isolated her, Richard interpreted it as marital independence.
When Rebecca stopped attending family events, he assumed she chose distance.
Trevor fed his pride.
He told Richard that Rebecca resented her father’s control.
Richard responded by stepping away.
“You were both controlling me,” Rebecca said. “He controlled me by force. You controlled me by withdrawing love when I made choices you disliked.”
Richard lowered his head.
She had never heard him apologize without explanation.
This time, he said only, “You are right.”
Rebecca did not forgive him immediately.
She allowed him to remain uncomfortable.
Healing was not the removal of consequences.
Then Emma entered carrying a drawing.
It showed Rebecca, Emma, the unborn baby, and Richard standing beside a red door.
Trevor was drawn outside in black crayon.
Richard asked, “What is this?”
Emma pointed.
“Grandpa keeps the bad man out.”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
May you like
Richard looked at his granddaughter.
“I will try.”
