Chapter 19 - ELEANOR'S LETTER TO PORTIA
Portia read the letter in a conference room with Cedric present.
Dear Portia,
I know your father has trapped you inside obligations you did not create. That does not excuse the harm you choose to do once you know better.
Portia stopped reading.
Her eyes filled.
Cedric said nothing.
She continued.
If you love Cedric, tell him the truth before the wedding. If you choose the merger instead, you are not another victim of Graham. You are his partner.
Portia lowered the page.
“She knew.”
“She gave you a choice,” Cedric said.
Portia cried quietly.
“I was afraid.”
“So was Sofia.”
She flinched.
“So was my mother.”
Portia looked at him.
“So were you.”
Cedric nodded.
“Yes.”
He did not need to pretend courage meant never being afraid.
It meant choosing what fear did not want you to choose.
Portia pleaded guilty to obstruction and assault related to Maisie. Her cooperation reduced her sentence, but it did not erase it.
Cedric never visited her.
Graham’s companies entered bankruptcy.
The Vale merger died.
Blackwood Holdings survived under independent oversight, smaller and poorer but still alive.
Alonzo resigned as head of security.
Cedric accepted it.
Then offered him something different.
“Director of ethics and investigations.”
Alonzo laughed.
“You want the man whose wife your family failed to protect policing your company?”
“Yes.”
“That’s either brave or stupid.”
“Probably both.”
Alonzo did not answer immediately.
Maisie did.
“Daddy, say yes. They have better snacks here.”
Alonzo laughed for the first time in weeks.
Then he looked at Cedric.
“One condition.”
“Name it.”
“No family exceptions.”
Cedric held out his hand.
“No family exceptions.”
Alonzo shook it.
But before they left, Flora placed the repaired craft vase on Cedric’s desk.
Underneath it was one tiny shard from the original antique.
May you like
On the back, someone had written a date.
The date of Eleanor’s death.
