What she failed to realize was that his daughter had become the kind of woman who destroys predators legally, publicly, and permanently.
Vivian became crueler because I remained calm.
She confused silence with fear. Marcus mistook politeness for surrender. Every morning they staged their cruelty like actors performing a routine.
Dad’s pain medication would mysteriously disappear, then only return after Vivian forced him to apologize.
“For being ungrateful,” she would say sweetly.
One night, I walked into the study and found Marcus forcing Dad to sign checks despite his shaking hands.
“Just cleaning up business matters,” Marcus said casually when he saw me.
Dad looked sick beneath the glow of the desk lamp.
I smiled faintly. “At midnight?”
Marcus held up the pen. “He wants to help his family.”
Vivian leaned elegantly against the bookshelf. “Family requires loyalty, Isabella. While you were away building your little career, we stayed here.”
“My little career?” I repeated.
Marcus smirked. “What are you these days? Some lawyer’s secretary?”
“Something close to that.”
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