Chapter 7 - Caleb Chose His Father
Caleb moved in with Victor.
Not permanently perhaps, but long enough to hurt.
He said I had humiliated Dad publicly, taken company, turned Sophie against him.
I wanted to defend every point.
Therapist said listen first.
So I did.
“You think I’m punishing him.”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it?”
“No. But I want to hear.”
Caleb cried.
He missed family.
He hated reporters.
Friends sent memes about “pack mule wife.”
He felt everyone was laughing at us.
“Dad says if you’d settled privately none of this happened.”
I answered carefully.
“Some of it would stay hidden.”
“Maybe that would be better.”
“For whom?”
He did not know.
Neither did I entirely.
Truth has collateral consequences.
Children pay for parental misconduct even when parents try not to make them.
I apologized for what I could.
“I’m sorry this became public.”
“Then stop.”
“I can’t undo evidence.”
“You can settle.”
“Yes.”
“Then do it.”
Maybe he was right partly.
Not to hide.
May you like
To stop living entirely inside litigation.
That influenced next decision.
