On the final morning, she left without saying goodbye.
I remembered confronting Eric.
He told me Vivian had become emotional and needed space.
Now Mia placed a printed email on the table.
It was from Vivian to Eric.
Eric had responded:
It sounded thoughtful.
The emails that followed were not.
Vivian repeatedly asked Eric to arrange a private meeting with me. Each time, he claimed I was depressed, fragile, or furious with her.
None of that was true.
“He told her I didn’t want contact?” I asked.
Mia nodded.
Eric leaned forward.
“You had just lost your mother.”
“She wasn’t my mother.”
“She raised you. She was your mother in every way that mattered.”
“That did not give you the right to hide who gave birth to me.”
“I thought Vivian would confuse you.”
“You thought knowing the truth would affect the inheritance.”
His eyes shifted.
That was answer enough.
