“I’m saying you had every advantage in the world.”
A tear ran down her face.
“You were born in silk. He paid for everything. He forgave everything.”
She swallowed.
“And none of you learned how to love him when loving him became inconvenient.”
Caroline slapped the arm of the sofa.
“YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS BITCH!”
Peter yelled:
“CAROLINE!”
Caroline screamed:
“No! No, I’m DONE listening to this woman talk like we’re monsters!”
Elena shouted back:
“THEN STOP ACTING LIKE THE ONLY REASON YOU CAME HOME ISN’T SITTING IN SIMON’S BRIEFCASE!”
Caroline froze.
Henry screamed:
“HOW DARE YOU!”
Elena turned.
“How dare I?”
Henry’s voice shook.
“He’s our father!”
Elena shouted:
“THEN WHERE WERE YOU?”
Henry had no answer.
“WHERE WERE YOU?”
“STOP!”
“WHEN HE COULDN’T DRIVE ANYMORE?”
“STOP!”
“WHEN HE COULDN’T WALK UP THE STAIRS?”
“STOP TALKING!”
“WHEN HE SAT IN THAT CHAIR EVERY SUNDAY WAITING FOR ONE OF YOU TO CALL?”
Henry screamed:
“I SAID STOP!”
Elena screamed back:
“NO!”
The sound cracked through the library.
Nobody spoke.
Elena’s whole body was trembling.
“No.”
Her voice lowered.
“You don’t get to stop me now because the truth is finally louder than you are.”
