Delphine knocked my dinner plate onto the floor before her hand buried itself in my hair.
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Chapter 23 / 27
Chapter 23 - DELPHINE’S DEATH
Delphine died at eighty-seven after complications from a stroke.
No mystery.
No hidden poison.
No final conspiracy.
Torin attended the funeral.
I did not.
Iris did.
Different choices.
No moral ranking.
Delphine’s estate paid remaining restitution first.
Then lawful assets distributed.
She left Iris:
Thomas Sutton’s fountain pen.
A pearl bracelet.
A note.
Iris kept the pen.
Declined the bracelet.
It was sold.
The note said:
You were never the reason I lost authority. Authority was already designed to end. I made your birth carry blame that belonged to my fear.
Iris cried.
Kept the note for one year.
Then shredded it.
May you like
No shrine.
Paper becomes paper.
