“You didn’t just keep me away from birthdays,” I said. “You made me believe I was difficult to love.”
“Chlo…”
“Every time I almost called someone, I remembered what you told me. I thought I was respecting their wishes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You were teaching them to doubt me while telling me you were the only person I could trust.”
Greg looked toward the driveway. “I thought if everyone needed me, Dad would keep choosing me.”
“Choosing you?” I asked. “You were always his golden boy.”
His face tightened. “That’s what I told myself.”
Ms. Richards stepped closer, but I raised one hand. I needed Greg to finish.
“Dad gave you space because he trusted you,” Greg said. “He checked on me because I kept failing. I turned that into proof he loved me more.”
The words landed harder than his excuses.
“So, you rewrote the family,” I said. “You made yourself the center and pushed me out.”
He nodded once.
“Tell everyone the truth. Repay what you owe. Correct every lie yourself.”
“I will.”
“Don’t promise me. Put it in writing.”
Ms. Richards opened her folder. “Byron already addressed the debts. The documented debts will be paid directly from Greg’s share before the balance is distributed to him.”
Greg stared at her. “All of them?”
His shoulders dropped.
I faced him again. “Until you’ve corrected the damage, don’t contact me unless it’s about the estate.”
“Chloe, please.”
“I need space.”
***
That evening, Joshua set Dad’s private tape beside the television.
“I can stay,” he said.
When Dad appeared, one hand rested on the finished rocking chair.
“I called Greg my strong son because he needed to hear it,” he said. “I gave you space because I thought you knew you were loved.”
I covered my mouth.
“I mistook your independence for certainty, Chloe. Greg mistook my worry for favouritism. Then he built a story around it, and I let silence help him.”
“Your mother said you looked for the moon whenever you were afraid. This chair is yours. And you’ll do better with your kids, my girl. I know you will.”
I nodded slowly.
