“Yes.”
“You struck your mother because she would not give you money. You forged legal documents. You helped a man who had been stealing from our family for years. You brought a g/u/n into the house.”
“I didn’t know Victor had stolen that much.”
“But you knew he was stealing.”
Marcus looked away.
“Yes.”
“And you continued.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He swallowed.
“Because I was desperate.”
I waited.
He seemed to expect sympathy.
When none came, he continued.
“My investment company was collapsing. I owed clients. I owed banks. I owed people who do not accept apologies.”
“So you chose to make your problem mine.”
“I thought the farm money would fix everything.”
“The farm money was never yours.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew it then.”
He closed his eyes.
The silence stretched between us.
Finally, I asked, “Why did you request this meeting?”
Marcus leaned forward.
