Chapter 12 - What Victoria Thought She Was Owed
Victoria requested one final therapeutic meeting with Owen.
He agreed on the condition that Claire remain in the room.
They met at Dr. Klein’s office.
Victoria looked different.
No ivory silk.
No heels.
Black pants, gray sweater, no jewelry.
Owen noticed.
Claire could tell because his eyes went immediately to Victoria’s wrists.
No watch.
No bracelet.
Nothing he could interpret as wealth taken from him.
Victoria sat opposite him.
“I’m not going to ask you to come home.”
Owen said nothing.
“I’m not going to tell you what Claire did wrong either.”
Claire felt the temptation to be grateful.
She ignored it.
Victoria looked at Owen.
“I did things to you that were cruel.”
His jaw tightened.
“I told myself they were discipline.”
He stared at the carpet.
“They weren’t.”
Dr. Klein remained quiet.
Victoria continued.
“I was angry about money.”
Owen looked up.
“My money.”
“Yes.”
“You took it.”
“Yes.”
“For yourself.”
“Some of it.”
“Most?”
Victoria hesitated.
Claire saw Owen register it.
Even now, the pause mattered.
“Some was used for things you genuinely needed,” Victoria said. “Some was used for household expenses I believed the trust should cover. Some I should never have requested.”
“How much?”
“We don’t know the final number yet.”
“You know what you bought.”
Victoria swallowed.
“Yes.”
Owen leaned forward.
“Why did you hate paying for me if it wasn’t your money?”
That was the question.
Victoria’s face changed.
“I thought it was supposed to repay me.”
“For what?”
“For staying.”
Owen stared at her.
Victoria went on before courage failed.
“When your dad died, I was terrified. Everybody told me I was amazing for keeping everything together. Then people stopped noticing.”
Her voice shook.
“The trust payment came every month. Three thousand dollars. It started to feel like proof that what I was doing mattered.”
Owen’s expression hardened.
“So I was your job.”
“No.”
“You got paid to keep me.”
“That’s not—”
Claire saw Victoria almost reach for the old defense.
She stopped herself.
“For a while,” Victoria said, “I started thinking that way.”
Owen blinked rapidly.
“And when the money stopped?”
“I got angry.”
“At me.”
“Yes.”
The word landed without decoration.
Claire wanted to look away.
She forced herself not to.
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“I started counting everything I did for you.”
“Food.”
“Yes.”
“My room.”
“Yes.”
“School.”
“Yes.”
“Like I owed you.”
“Yes.”
Owen wiped one cheek.
“I didn’t kill Dad.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“I didn’t make you stay.”
“I know.”
“I was two.”
“I know.”
His voice cracked.
“Then why did you make me pay?”
Victoria pressed a hand to her mouth.
No answer came.
Owen stood.
Claire stood too.
Victoria looked up quickly.
“Please.”
Owen stopped.
Victoria said, “I’m sorry.”
He waited.
She did not add but.
Claire noticed.
So did Owen.
He looked at Victoria for a long time.
Then said, “I don’t forgive you.”
Victoria nodded.
“I understand.”
“I might never.”
Her face tightened.
“I understand.”
Owen reached for the office door.
Then turned back.
“You should pay my money back.”
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
Outside, Owen walked three blocks before speaking.
“Was that mean?”
“No.”
“She cried.”
“I saw.”
“I wanted her to.”
Claire considered her answer.
“That doesn’t make you bad.”
“It felt good.”
“For a second?”
“Yeah.”
“And now?”
He kicked at a crack in the sidewalk.
“Not really.”
Claire put her hands in her coat pockets.
That, she thought, was the difference between consequences and revenge.
May you like
One protected Owen’s future.
The other would keep Victoria controlling his emotions even from another apartment.
