Chapter 16 - Marietta blames me
She requested mediation before criminal trial.
Through lawyers.
I agreed only for civil reimbursement issues.
She sat across from me.
“You always got everything.”
“We are not discussing childhood.”
“That’s all we’re discussing.”
“No.”
“You were Mom’s son. You inherited Dad’s attention. You got the company track.”
“I do not work for Bennett Hospitality.”
True.
I built a commercial-design firm outside family business precisely because I did not want Eleanor controlling my career.
Marietta continued:
“Then you had Aubrielle and Mom started spending on her like Samantha had suddenly become respectable.”
There.
The resentment was not really Claire versus Aubrielle.
It was Marietta versus me.
She used children to score it.
I said:
“You punished Aubrielle because you were angry at me.”
“I did not punish her.”
“You called her unwanted.”
“She has you.”
“That does not answer it.”
Then:
“Did Claire ask you to take Aubrielle’s gifts?”
No.
Silence.
“Did Mom tell you to?”
No.
Another silence.
May you like
“Then stop putting women and girls in front of the choices you made.”
Mediation ended quickly.
