Chapter 23 - VIVIAN AND RYAN
Ryan resumed limited contact with Vivian after her release.
I did not control that.
The twins’ contact remained separate.
At twenty, Emma chose one supervised meeting.
Oliver declined.
Emma asked Vivian:
“Did you hate Grandma Margaret?”
Vivian answered:
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I believed your father deserved a lifestyle he could not afford alone.”
Emma stared.
“That’s embarrassing.”
Vivian almost laughed.
“Yes.”
“You used Grandma to save money?”
“Yes.”
“You hurt her because she stopped cooperating?”
“Yes.”
“Did Dad ask you to?”
“Not always.”
Important.
Vivian owned her actions.
Emma asked:
“Did he stop you?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Meeting lasted twenty minutes.
No hug.
No second meeting for years.
Oliver eventually read Vivian’s letter but never met.
His choice.
Ryan did not pressure.
May you like
That mattered too.
Families do not need equal reconciliation.
