Chapter 17 - DELPHINE TESTIFIES Delphine testified for two hours.
Mother never looked at her.
The questions were direct.
Payments.
Texts.
The Crestline deal.
The $1.15 million agreement.
And Willa.
Did Mother order the slap?
“No.”
Did Mother tell her to “correct” Willa?
“Yes.”
What did that mean?
Removing dessert.
Moving her chair.
Humiliating her.
Making her stand away from the table.
Then:
“Did you know your actions could affect Everett's governance position?”
“Yes.”
“And the $1.15 million?”
“Yes.”
“Did that matter?”
“A lot.”
Then Mother's attorney cross-examined her.
“You resent your brother?”
“Yes.”
“You proposed pushing harder?”
“Yes.”
“You acted independently?”
“Sometimes.”
“So your mother did not control you?”
“No.”
That mattered.
Mother hadn't created every action.
Delphine had agency.
Then Mother testified.
She admitted the strategy.
She said she believed I had become unstable after Lila's death.
The attorney asked:
“Did you regret the strategy?”
A long pause.
“Yes.”
“When?”
Mother looked down.
“After Willa fell.”
The room went silent.
Then:
“Did you pay Delphine after the slap?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“The payment had already been agreed.”
That answer hurt.
Because she could have stopped.
She hadn't.
Then I testified.
I admitted everything.
The shouting.
The pasta.
The table.
My anger.
The investigator asked:
“Why should anyone trust you?”
I answered:
“They shouldn't have to trust my family name. That's why I support independent governance.”
Then:
“Would you surrender your hereditary stewardship seat?”
“Yes.”
Mother looked at me.
For the first time that day, her composure broke.
Her strategy had been built around controlling that seat.
I was giving it away.
May you like
Not to her.
To a system.
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