Chapter 13 - Nathan Was Not Innocent Either
It would have been easy to turn Nathan into the good parent because Simone became the antagonist.
Reality resisted.
Nathan’s drinking had damaged the family.
He had missed Iris’s kindergarten performance because he was intoxicated at home.
He had driven after drinking once.
Alone, thankfully.
That DUI forced change.
During the first months after separation, he sent angry late-night messages to Simone.
Not threats of violence.
Ugly.
Accusing.
He violated a parenting schedule twice by arriving late.
The court restricted him temporarily.
He earned back time gradually.
Treatment.
Testing.
Therapy.
Consistency.
Nathan did not ask anyone to forget.
When we met, he said:
“Simone had reasons not to trust me.”
Vivienne asked:
“Does that make what she did now okay?”
“No.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because if I start telling the story like she invented every fear, Iris learns history is something adults rewrite to win.”
I respected that.
Nathan also admitted he hated the Marcelli contingency for reasons beyond parental rights.
“You people have staff.”
“So?”
“Drivers. Security. Tutors. Huge house.”
“This bothers you?”
“It makes me feel replaceable.”
Honest.
He rubbed his hands together.
“If Iris stayed with you for six months, I’d be the dad with a condo and a Honda asking her to come home from the mansion.”
“That is your insecurity.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“But Simone knew exactly where to press.”
Nathan feared status quo.
Family courts often value continuity and stability.
If Iris lived somewhere for a significant period under lawful arrangements, he worried future arguments would form around disrupting her.
Priya told him:
“Courts do not simply award children to richer households.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He sighed.
“Emotionally? Not always.”
That was useful too.
We all brought fear into the room.
May you like
Simone’s problem was treating hers as authority.
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