Chapter 9 - The Anatomy of Control
Mark opened the screen door, his posture instantly stiffening as he recognized the woman standing at the garden gate. He stepped down to Amy’s side, his hand naturally finding the small of her back.
"Mother," he said.
Victoria attempted a maternal smile, but it looked brittle. "Mark. You haven't answered any of my letters. Arthur told me you were working at a municipal bank. It's preposterous. I came to tell you that the board is willing to welcome you back. We can put this unpleasant year behind us."
Mark looked at her, truly observing his mother for perhaps the first time in his life. He saw the tension in her jaw, the desperate need to restore an image of family harmony for her social circle, and the complete absence of remorse.
"You haven't asked about Leo," Mark said.
Victoria blinked, caught off guard. "What? Of course I care about the baby. I brought him a trust fund contribution." She reached into her bag for an envelope.
"He almost had a seizure that night, Mother," Mark said softly. "You watched his mother carrying fifteen plates while he was burning with a fever, and your only concern was whether the coffee service was delayed."
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"I was running an event!" Victoria’s voice edged into exasperation. "I gave you everything, Mark! The best schools, the contacts, your entire career! And you throw it all away because of one misunderstanding?"
"It wasn't a misunderstanding," Mark said. "It was a revelation."
