“You organized my career,” Isla says, her voice steady even as her hands begin to shake.“You filtered the world, so I only saw what you wanted me to see.Did you also keep him from me?”
Her mother gasped, her eyes darting nervously around the room, like Keir would walk in and announce the truth.“Never.He could have seen you any time.I protected you from chaos.”
Something in her body seemed to tense.
“You protected yourself,” Isla says.“And now you’re afraid I’ll learn the truth and you’ll lose control.”
Alisa stares at her, breathing hard.“There is only one truth.He never wanted to be a father.He didn’t want to see you.Don’t buy into their lies.This place will destroy your control.Your career.”
“That’s why you want me gone.”
Alisa doesn’t deny it.
“This castle isn’t just about him,” Isla continues.“It’s about what happens when I’m not under your thumb.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s accurate.”
Alisa’s voice drops.“You don’t understand how easily this can all disappear.”
Isla laughs softly.“You mean my career?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Isla says.“You meanyours.”
The accusation lands clean and final.
Alisa straightens, smoothing her expression like she’s facing an investor instead of her daughter.“You do not belong here,” she says.“This castle will rewrite things that don’t need rewriting.”
Why did her mother appear to be nervous?
“I need the truth.”
“You need to get on a plane,” Alisa snaps.“You can grieve from New York.”
Isla shakes her head.“Who says I’m grieving?You’re afraid.”
“Yes,” Alisa says fiercely.“I am afraid of watching you throw away everything I sacrificed for a man who couldn’t stay sober or faithful long enough to raise his own child.”
“I’m not staying for him.”
“Then why?”
Isla meets her mother’s gaze, unwavering.“Because I want to learn about my sperm donor.Not to honor him, but to understand where I come from.And for the first time in my life, I want to make a choice you didn’t approve.”
Alisa stares at her.“You are choosing him over me.”
The accusation slices deep.
“I’m choosing myself,” Isla says.“I want to learn about my genes.I want to make certain that the description of my father that you gave me agrees with others who knew him.I need to know the truth.”
Alisa turns toward the door, anger brittle and sharp.“Fine.Stay.But when this costs you your career, don’t expect me to save you.”
“I won’t.”
Alisa pauses, hand on the knob.“Ninety days,” she says.“Then you come home.”
