Chapter 11
Julian stayed away from Theo.
His choice.
Good.
He spent weeks reading Leonard’s records.
Eventually he asked to meet me.
He brought one notebook.
His father’s.
“Dad knew the advisory seat was withdrawn because of his maneuvering.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
Julian opened a page.
Leonard wrote:
Thomas says Patrick thinks I’m building votes around him. Maybe I am.
Another:
If they won’t give me a place, I’ll make them need one.
There.
Self-awareness.
Not innocent martyr.
Julian stared.
“My father told us none of this.”
Of course.
Parents pass down the version that preserves dignity.
He asked:
“Does this erase what your father did?”
“No.”
Good.
Leonard pressured.
My father misled.
Both.
Julian nodded.
Then said:
“I told Sabine we deserved something.”
“You did.”
“I told her marrying you would fix it.”
There.
His own part.
“I made the engagement political after it was already real.”
“Yes.”
He looked ashamed.
“What do I do?”
“Stop.”
He almost laughed.
Simple answers irritate complicated men.
He did stop.
No more Holt claim through Sabine.
No more access attempts.
He accepted the settlement.
Used part to establish a scholarship for children of long-serving non-blood staff.
That surprised me.
Maybe inherited grievance can become something useful when stripped of entitlement.
I supported it anonymously.
No Rourke branding.
No Holt branding.
May you like
People did not need another monument to families.
They needed tuition.
