Chapter 412

Chapter 412:

The hope that bloomed on Eleanor’s face was painful to witness. “That’s more than we deserve.”

“Yes,” Alexander agreed. “It is.”

Edward took another step toward his son. “Can we… would it be possible to know you again? To hear about your life, your work? Your wedding plans?”

Alexander looked at his father for a long moment. “Small steps. A dinner, perhaps. In a month or so.”

Eleanor pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to contain her emotion. Edward nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

Alexander stood, straightening his suit. “I won’t pretend we can go back to being a family. Too much has happened. But we can try to build something new. Something based on truth this time.”

“That’s all we ask,” Edward said, his voice rough.

Alexander moved to Camille, taking her hand. “I’m ready to go now.”

As they walked toward the door, Eleanor called after them. “Alexander? The engagement party Victoria Kane is hosting… Would it be… would we be welcome?”

Alexander paused, looking back at his mother. “I’ll think about it.”

Outside, the autumn air felt cleaner somehow, easier to breathe. They walked to the car in silence, leaves crunching beneath their feet. Behind them, the mansion seemed less imposing now, just an old house filled with painful memories.

“Are you okay?” Camille asked as they reached the car.

Alexander looked back at the home he’d grown up in, at the window where his parents stood watching.

“No,” he said honestly. “But I think I will be.”

He opened Camille’s door, then walked around to the passenger side. As they drove away, he didn’t look back again.

“I told them I couldn’t forgive them yet,” he said after they’d turned onto the main road. “The truth is, I’m not sure I ever can completely.”

“Forgiveness isn’t a single moment,” Camille said. “It’s a process. I’m still working on it with my parents.”

Alexander reached for her hand across the console. “Does it get easier?”

“Yes,” she said. “When you stop expecting it to erase what happened and start seeing it as a way to free yourself.”

They drove in silence for a while, leaving the wealthy neighborhood behind.

“I told them we might have dinner. In a month.” Alexander sounded surprised at his own words. “I’m not sure where that came from.”

“From hope,” Camille suggested. “The part of you that’s always wanted them to see the truth. To choose you.”

Alexander looked out the window, watching the world pass by. “I was so angry for so long. It became part of who I am.”

“And now?”

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