Chapter 8 - SLOAN’S CHILD
Sloan gave birth to a daughter.
Her name was Clara.
I learned through Thaddius because Vincent Drake’s attorneys were negotiating repayment of certain corporate benefits.
I did not visit.
Why would I?
Then Sloan wrote to me.
Saraphina,
I know I have no right to ask anything from you.
Good opening.
She admitted that Caldwell had told her our marriage was functionally over long before the affair.
Standard.
She wanted to believe him.
Then she began enjoying the competition.
That part was harder.
I wanted him to choose me in public because I thought if a man like Caldwell chose me over you, it proved something about my worth.
There it was.
Another woman using me as a measuring instrument for herself.
She apologized for the wine.
For the gala.
For the word “barren.”
She wrote:
I had no idea about his diagnosis. But even if I had believed you were infertile, it was cruel.
Correct.
Then:
Clara is Vincent’s daughter. He is involved and we are working through a parenting arrangement. We are not together.
No fairy tale.
Fine.
I wrote back three sentences.
Thank you for apologizing.
I hope you build a life where your worth does not depend on being chosen over another woman.
I wish your daughter well.
That was all.
No friendship.
No revenge.
May you like
Enough.
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