Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: The Final Straw.

Brandon arrived home to find Margaret in the living room, looking more relaxed than he'd seen her since she'd arrived. The trip to Singapore had clearly done her good—there was color in her cheeks and a lightness in her movements that hadn't been there before. Elena was just gathering her things to leave. "I'll see you at the office tomorrow," she said to Brandon, giving Margaret a quick hug. "Remember what we talked about." After Elena left, Brandon sat down beside Margaret. "How are you doing?" "Great, actually. I haven't had an experience like that in my entire life." Margaret's smile was genuine. "Elena showed me a world I didn't know existed." "I'm glad." Brandon paused. "She told me about your dreams of being an actress. I'd like to help make that happen." Margaret immediately shook her head. "Brandon, you've already done so much—" "And I want to do more. Margaret, I own several production studios. I know directors, casting agents, acting coaches. We can get you trained properly and find roles that suit you. You're forty, not eighty. It's not too late." "I couldn't possibly—" "Yes, you can." Brandon's tone was firm but gentle. "Let me help you build the life you should have had twenty years ago." Margaret looked at him with tears in her eyes, finally nodding. "Okay. Thank you." --- Victoria's phone had been buzzing all morning. Finally, when it rang for the tenth time, she sighed and answered. "Where the hell have you been?" Richard's voice was sharp with anger. "I've been busy, Dad. I can't just drop everything—" "Come home. Now." "I'm not just going to—" "I'm not asking, Victoria. I'm telling you. Come home immediately." Something in his tone made Victoria realize arguing would be pointless. She grabbed her keys and drove to the family house, finding Richard in his study wearing a disheveled suit that looked like he'd slept in it. The smell of alcohol was overpowering. "Dad, you look terrible." "I don't need fashion advice from you." Richard paced the room like a caged animal. "You need to convince your mother to come home." "What? No. She left for a reason—" "I don't care about her reasons!" Richard slammed his hand on the desk. "Everything is falling apart. Patrick's destroying what I built, the board wants me gone, and your mother is living with that bastard Brandon. You're going to fix this." "How am I supposed to—" "Call her. Tell her whatever she wants to hear. Tell her we'll change, that we miss her, that we love her. I don't care what lies you have to tell. Just get her back here." Victoria stared at her father, seeing for the first time how completely he'd unraveled. "Dad, maybe we should just—" "This isn't a discussion, Victoria. Call your mother and get her to meet with you. Now." Victoria sighed and pulled out her phone, dialing the number she'd barely used in years. --- The next morning, Brandon was in the kitchen making breakfast when he noticed Margaret walk in looking sad. Just yesterday she'd been glowing from the Singapore trip. Something had clearly changed. "What's wrong?" he asked immediately. Margaret settled onto one of the bar stools. "Victoria called. She wants to meet and talk." Brandon felt his jaw tighten. "Margaret, you shouldn't go. Victoria has bad intentions. This is clearly Richard trying to manipulate you into coming back." "I know. But she's still my daughter. I should at least hear what she has to say." Brandon wanted to argue, but he could see the hope in Margaret's eyes—the desperate wish that maybe, just maybe, her daughter had changed. "Fine. But you're taking one of the bodyguards with you. Non-negotiable." Margaret nodded. "That's fair." --- The café Victoria chose was in a neutral location—not too close to Brandon's estate, but not near the Carter house either. Margaret arrived with one of Brandon's security guards, who positioned himself at a nearby table with clear line of sight. Victoria stood when she saw her mother, and to Margaret's surprise, pulled her into a hug with more affection than she'd shown in years. "Mom, thank you for coming." They sat down, and Margaret waited for Victoria to explain why she'd wanted to meet. Victoria's expression shifted to something that looked almost vulnerable. "I think you should come home. Dad's spiraling badly, and... I miss you." Margaret felt her heart clench. "Victoria, I can't just—" "I know we haven't been the best to you," Victoria continued, her voice carrying what sounded like genuine emotion. "But we want to change. Things have been so hectic with the company, and we've been stressed. Without you there, it's even harder." She reached across the table to take Margaret's hand. "I love you, Mom." Margaret felt tears spring to her eyes. "I love you too, sweetheart." "So you'll come home?" Margaret looked down at their joined hands. "I need to sort things out first. I can't come home right now, but maybe soon—" "You have to come now," Victoria's tone sharpened slightly. "I'm not ready yet. There's a lot to work through. Like my marriage to your father." Victoria's mask slipped completely. "Is Brandon turning you against us? Filling your head with lies about me and Dad?" "Brandon isn't turning me against anyone. I just need time—" "Is it because of his money? Are you staying there because you like being rich?" Victoria's voice grew louder. "Are you fucking him? Is that what this is?" Margaret recoiled as if she'd been slapped, tears immediately filling her eyes. She wiped them away with shaking hands. "I thought things would be different. I thought maybe you'd actually changed. But I was naive." She stood up. "You and your father will never change. I won't be coming home. Ever. Tell Richard the same." Victoria grabbed her mother's arm as she tried to leave. "Are you really going to betray your family like this? For Brandon of all people?" The security guard immediately stepped in, gently but firmly removing Victoria's hand from Margaret's arm and guiding her toward the exit. "You'll regret this!" Victoria shouted after them. "When Brandon gets bored of you, you'll have nowhere to go! You're making a huge mistake!" Victoria stood alone in the café, other patrons staring at her outburst. She grabbed her phone and threw it against the wall in frustration. Her father was going to be furious. --- Brandon was in his home office when Margaret returned. He knew immediately from her expression that things hadn't gone well. "How did it go?" Margaret sat down heavily. "Bad. I should have listened to you." "What happened?" "She tried to manipulate me into coming home. Said they'd changed, that they missed me, that they loved me." Margaret's voice broke slightly. "For a moment, I actually believed her. But then when I said I needed time, she started accusing me of betraying the family. Asked if I was sleeping with you." Brandon moved to sit beside her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know you hoped she might actually care." "I'm done hoping for things that will never happen." Margaret looked up at him with clear, determined eyes. "I'm ready now. I want a divorce from Richard. I want to completely move on with my life." Brandon pulled her into a hug, feeling her finally let go of the last remnants of false hope she'd been carrying. "I'm proud of you. This took real courage." As Margaret cried against his shoulder, Brandon felt satisfaction that had nothing to do with revenge or business success. Margaret had finally chosen herself—her own happiness and wellbeing—over the toxic people who'd spent decades making her believe she deserved nothing better. Sometimes the greatest victory wasn't destroying your enemies. It was helping the people they'd hurt finally break free.