Duncan shook his head, a sad smile playing at his lips. "Angela, a relationship with Jill was never going to be simple. She's… complicated. Always has been."
"That's one way to put it," Jude murmured beside her.
Duncan's smile widened slightly at Jude's comment. "The truth is, you said what needed to be said. Maybe not by Annie—she's too close to the situation, too hurt by it. But you spoke from a place of care and concern for your sister."
The knot in her stomach loosened slightly. "Julian left with her. He didn't say much."
"Julian has been caught between his mother and the rest of us for years," Duncan said with a sigh. "It's not a position I envy."
Angela glanced at Jude, remembering how he'd called her remarkable. The word still echoed in her mind, warming something inside her despite the chill that had settled in her bones after the confrontation.
"I didn't go there planning to confront her," Angela said. "But the way she talked about Kiara, like she was just some… inconvenience. That she wasn’t my sister. And then implying we needed to change everything about ourselves to fit into her world…" She trailed off, the indignation rising again.
Duncan leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Jill isn’t wrong about this world being different from what you’re used to, but that doesn’t mean it’s better. And it doesn’t mean you have to change to fit into it. Annalisa and Benjamin haven’t been part of my world, and you don’t have to be either. All of you are fine just as you are. There’s no need for any of you to change."
"So you really think I did the right thing?" she asked, still uncertain.
"I do." Duncan leaned forward, his expression earnest. "For too long, Jill has been allowed to rewrite history, to play the victim in a story where she lost one daughter and couldn’t bear to face that loss every day with her other one. It's about time someone held her accountable."
Angela's shoulders relaxed slightly. She glanced at Jude, who gave her a small nod of encouragement.
"What happens now?" she asked quietly.
Duncan sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "That depends on Jill. She might be angry for a little while. She might try to reach out again. Or she might decide this relationship isn't worth the effort if it means facing uncomfortable truths. If youwant to try again with Jill, we can arrange another meeting. If you'd rather wait, that's fine too. There's no wrong answer here.”
Angela considered his words. The thought of facing Jill again made her stomach tighten, but she also didn't want to give up after one difficult encounter. "I think I need some time to process everything."
"Take all the time you need," Duncan said. "This isn't something that needs to be rushed. If she does reach out, you get to decide what kind of relationship you want—if any. You're under no obligation to pursue one if it doesn't feel right."
Angela nodded, processing his words. The weight of the decision felt both heavy and liberating.
Everything had happened so quickly—the meeting, the confrontation, now this conversation with Duncan. Her emotions felt raw and tangled, like a ball of yarn that had been batted around by a kitten.
"Thank you," she said, the words inadequate for the relief she felt. "For understanding."
"Always," Duncan replied simply.
Angela rose from her chair, suddenly desperate for some quiet space to sort through her thoughts. The emotional whiplash of the day had left her drained.
"If it's okay," Angela said, "I think I'd like to go rest for a while."
"Of course," Duncan said, his voice gentle. "And Angela? You handled yourself beautifully today. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
The warmth of his words wrapped around her like a blanket. She'd expected disappointment, maybe even anger, but instead,found understanding and pride. It was more than she'd dared hope for.
Jude rose beside her, his movements fluid and controlled as always. "I'll walk you back to your room."
“Come back when you’re done, Jude,” Duncan instructed. “I need to address a few things with you.”
Jude nodded, then led Angela to the door.
As they left Duncan's office and walked through the quiet hallways of the house, Angela found herself stealing glances at him. His jaw was relaxed, his posture less rigid than it had been at the resort. The tension that had radiated from him during the meeting with Jill had eased.
"Thank you," she said as they reached the staircase leading to the second floor. "For being there today. For… everything."
Jude paused at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face her fully. The afternoon light streaming through the tall windows caught the blue of his eyes, making them shine.
"You don't need to thank me," he said quietly. "That's what friends do."
