Chapter 19 - THE FATHER'S CONFESSION|
Camille agreed to meet Nathan at the family home.
She arrived in the late afternoon. The house was quiet, the curtains half-drawn, and the photographs on the walls seemed to belong to another family.
Nathan stood by the fireplace.
He looked older than he had a month earlier.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then he said, "You look like your grandmother."
Camille didn't sit.
"What do you want?"
Nathan lowered his eyes.
"I want you to hear the truth from me."
"I've heard enough versions of it."
"I made mistakes."
"You forged her signature."
"I did."
"You used company money to pay yourself."
"I did."
"You let the Briarwoods threaten her."
Nathan closed his eyes.
"I thought I could control the situation."
"You couldn't even control yourself."
He flinched.
Camille looked at the man who had taught her to swim, who had carried her on his shoulders through hotel lobbies, who had once promised that no business deal would ever matter more than his family.
"Why?" she asked.
Nathan took a long breath.
"I was afraid of losing everything. The hotels were failing. The lenders were closing in. Russell offered a way out."
"So you offered me."
"I thought an engagement would buy us time."
"You thought I would agree."
"I thought you would do what was best for the family."
Camille's voice became quiet.
"That's what you always said when you wanted me to do what was best for you."
Nathan looked at her.
"I know."
He admitted that Russell had proposed the false transfer, but Nathan had agreed to help. He had also approved the payments to the consulting company and hidden the true debt from the board.
He insisted that the medication changes had been made by the new care provider, not at his request.
Camille listened, but she did not absolve him.
"Did you know Sloane was planning to humiliate me?"
"No."
"Did you stop her?"
Nathan looked away.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid Russell would withdraw the financing."
Camille shook her head.
"That is the answer to everything, isn't it? You were afraid of losing money, so you let me lose my dignity."
Nathan began to cry.
"I am sorry."
She believed that he was sorry.
But being sorry did not restore the trust he had destroyed.
"I won't ask you to forgive me," he said.
"Good."
"I only want you to know that I never wanted you hurt."
Camille looked at him.
"Then you should have protected me."
She turned toward the door.
Nathan called after her.
"Camille."
She stopped.
"Your mother is leaving me."
Camille felt no satisfaction.
"That's her decision."
"And the company?"
"The board will decide who leads it. The employees will have a voice. Grandma's trust will be protected."
Nathan nodded.
"I suppose that's fair."
Camille opened the door.
Outside, the evening air smelled of rain.
Her phone vibrated.
May you like
A message from Beatrice appeared.
Come to the inn tomorrow. I have something waiting for you.
