Chapter 15
One year after the reading lounge incident, Julian invited me to the scholarship dinner.
I almost refused.
Then went.
Not as boss.
As guest.
Sabine was not there.
Her choice.
The scholarship carried Leonard’s name only in a small internal note.
No statue.
No giant portrait.
Julian gave one speech.
“My father served a family that did not always know how to distinguish loyalty from ownership.”
Interesting.
Then:
“He also wanted power badly enough to make mistakes while calling them service.”
Better.
Complexity.
He had finally allowed Leonard to be both wronged and flawed.
That was healing.
Not vindication.
Afterward Julian asked:
“Do you hate Sabine?”
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“I don’t trust her.”
Different.
“Could that change?”
“I don’t know.”
Same answer I gave everyone lately.
Truthful.
He nodded.
“She’s in therapy.”
I did not need that information, but accepted it.
No reward.
No shortcut.
May you like
Change can exist even when the harmed person never returns.
That is still worth doing.
