He leaned forward, hands shaking. “I just wanted to be the one holding things together. The one people trusted. The one who made the decisions.” His eyes found hers again, pleading now. “You were supposed to be safe. Taken care of. I never meant to hurt you. I just needed you to need me.”
“Stop,” Clare said quietly. That was all. The case never reached trial. The evidence was too complete. The pleas came quickly. Daniel went to prison. Eleanor followed. The house emptied itself of their presence as if it had been waiting to exhale. Months later, Clare stood alone in her father’s office, sunlight spilling across the desk that had once seemed too large for her.