Chapter 6 - Veronica Called It a Family Reset
Veronica finally agreed to a formal conversation.
Lawyers present.
No closed doors.
No Preston.
Amelia’s face had mostly recovered from the chemical irritation, though her eyes still watered more easily than normal.
Veronica noticed.
She showed no visible shame.
“You assaulted me.”
Veronica’s mouth tightened.
“I lost my temper.”
“You sprayed cleaning solution into my face.”
“I said I lost my temper.”
Not apology.
Reduction.
Amelia placed a photograph of the packed luggage on the table.
“What was Lake Briar?”
Veronica looked at it.
“A chance to reset.”
“Reset what?”
“You.”
Amelia stared.
Veronica apparently realized the wording was too blunt.
She continued.
“You entered this marriage exhausted, distracted, constantly answering work calls, constantly surrounded by people who encourage you to treat marriage as something secondary.”
“My career existed before Preston.”
“So did many things.”
The answer was extraordinary in its simplicity.
Marriage, to Veronica, was supposed to reorder importance.
Not negotiate it.
Reorder it.
“Why six weeks?”
“Because ten days changes nothing.”
“What was supposed to happen after six?”
Veronica hesitated.
“You would have perspective.”
Amelia almost smiled.
“You mean compliance.”
“I mean understanding that you are no longer making decisions only for yourself.”
Amelia placed one hand over her abdomen.
Neither woman missed the movement.
Veronica’s face changed.
For one brief second, something almost like guilt appeared.
Then Amelia asked:
“Did you know I was pregnant?”
“No.”
Immediate.
Believable.
“If you had known?”
Veronica looked at her.
“I would never have allowed Preston to strike you.”
Amelia felt something cold settle inside her.
Allowed.
Not:
He should never strike you.
Not:
What he did was wrong.
Allowed.
As though Amelia’s pregnancy changed the value of the body he hit.
Amelia leaned back.
“That tells me everything.”
May you like
Veronica did not understand.
That told Amelia even more.
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