Chapter 11
The Mercer siblings lost every Ravello household channel.
No nursery access.
No staff instructions.
No security privileges.
No family scheduling.
Chase called it excessive.
I called it proportional.
“You’re treating us like enemies.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“Enemies announce themselves.”
He went silent.
“Tove smiled at my daughter while teaching the house to doubt her.”
That was worse.
I did not destroy their outside business relationships.
Did not seize anything that belonged to them.
I simply removed what came through me.
That distinction mattered.
Power should not become the same controlling instinct I was condemning.
Margaret noticed.
“You’re not going after everything.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Mireya needs safety, not spectacle.”
My mother smiled faintly.
May you like
Good.
Maybe I was learning.
