“Yes,” he finally said.
“I helped her leave.”
Mark stared at him.
“You knew?”
“She asked me for help.”
“You helped her take my child away?”
“She wanted to leave the relationship, Mark.”
“You had no right to interfere.”
Daniel stayed calm.
“You moved money out of the account. You restricted her access to finances. You made leaving far more difficult than it needed to be.”
Mark shook his head.
“You don’t know what our relationship was like.”
“I knew enough.”
Mark gave a frustrated laugh.
“Claire and I argued. Couples argue.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Arguments happen.”
Then his voice became firmer.
“But controlling someone’s access to money because they want to leave is different.”
Mark looked away.
“I was trying to keep our family together.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She wanted space, and she had the right to make that choice.”
The room was silent.
Mark looked toward Evan.
“Where is your mother?”
Evan lowered his eyes.
“I lost her last year.”
Mark’s expression changed.
For a few seconds, he seemed unsure what to say.
Then he looked back at Evan.
“But I’m still your father.”
Evan watched him quietly.
“You’re my son.”
Evan took a breath.
“I already have a dad.”
Mark frowned.
“My stepfather raised me.”
Evan continued calmly.
“I came here because I wanted answers about my mother’s past. I got them.”
He paused.
“I don’t know whether I want any kind of relationship beyond that.”
Mark stepped forward slightly.
“Don’t I at least deserve a chance?”
Daniel gently raised a hand.
“Give him some space.”
Mark looked frustrated.
“You always interfere.”
Daniel sighed.
“I should have been more honest with you years ago.”
Mark stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“What happened between you and Claire wasn’t healthy.”
“You don’t get to judge my relationship.”
“I should have spoken up sooner.”
Daniel’s voice stayed calm.
“Controlling someone’s finances, limiting their choices, and making it difficult for them to leave was wrong.”
Mark didn’t answer.
“For almost twenty years,” Daniel continued, “I convinced myself that keeping my distance from you was enough.”
He shook his head.
“It wasn’t.”
Then Daniel walked to the front door and opened it.
“I think it’s best if we stop pretending we still have a friendship.”
Mark looked stunned.
“Daniel.”
“I wish I had said that years ago.”
Mark glanced toward Evan.
“What about him?”
CONTINUE READING…>>
