Chapter 10
Gavin wanted forgiveness before he understood responsibility.
Predictable.
“I love her.”
I stared.
“You keep saying that as though love cancels behavior.”
“It matters.”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“It makes what you did worse.”
He flinched.
Good.
“You pushed someone you love.”
Silence.
“You let your mother control her.”
Silence.
“You let your sister punish your daughter.”
His face broke slightly.
“I was angry.”
“So?”
“She threatened everything I’ve worked for.”
I leaned back.
“There.”
Finally.
Not marriage.
Work.
Ambition.
Identity.
Sienna refusing East Harbor felt like betrayal because Gavin had begun believing her father’s power was part of the marriage package.
“You thought marrying her meant access to me.”
“No.”
Too late.
I waited.
He corrected himself.
“Not only.”
Better.
“I wanted a place.”
“Then you should have earned one.”
“I thought I had.”
“By producing grandchildren?”
His face hardened.
I continued.
“That is not work.”
Silence.
“You wanted fatherhood converted into rank.”
He looked away.
“And when Sienna refused to help you, you punished the person blocking your promotion.”
That sentence landed.
Gavin whispered:
“I didn’t plan it like that.”
“I believe you.”
He looked surprised.
“Planning isn’t required for entitlement.”
Sometimes the ugliest systems grow because every next step feels justified.
Gavin wanted respect.
Then access.
Then territory.
Then Sienna’s help.
Then obedience.
Then silence.
By the time he pushed her, each previous wrong had taught him the next one was reasonable.
I removed every Ferrante-associated role he held.
No meetings.
No introductions.
No routes.
No estate authority.
May you like
He remained Sienna’s husband only as long as Sienna chose.
Nothing else came with it.
