Tavon''s face was tight with anger, barely holding it together.
When he spoke, his jaw clenched and a muscle twitched in his cheek. Deep down, he was scared. If Sandy really had something to do with this... that was too much to handle.
Sandy turned and met Tavon''s eyes, calm and unflinching, almost indifferent.
Then she smiled-soft, almost sweet, but cold enough to send a shiver down his spine. "Dad, once bitten, twice shy, is that it? You think I made Mom jump? After all these years, you haven''t changed a bit. It''s always someone else''s fault. Why don''t you ask yourself what you did to her? What you said to her?"
Sandy''s voice grew sharper, her anger building. She stood up, staring him down. "Why don''t you think about how Salma and Anastasia treated her? Mom begged you toe home, but you wouldn''t. You kept waving divorce papers in her face. You broke her, Dad. You were thest straw."
Her wordsnded hard. She looked delicate, the picture of a ssic Willowbrook girl, but there was nothing soft about her now-just ambition and ice.
Sandy drove Tavon into a corner with every word, her gaze fierce. "You, Salma, Anastasia—you''re all responsible."
That was it. Tavon''s bluster faded away.
He remembered Ashley''s birthday, when he''d threatened divorce in front of everyone. He''d meant it, too. As soon as Pattie''s surgery was done, he''d nned to end things with Ashley. Letting it drag on was just making everyone miserable.
Now, looking at Sandy, all he saw was anger and hurt. He felt a chill. "I wanted to divorce your mom," he admitted, his voice low. "But I never thought she''d... do something like that."
He''d been talking about divorce for a year. Ashley just refused to let go.
"Well, you got what you wanted," Sandy said, her voice trembling just a little. "Mom''s lying there now. Nothing left to get in your way. You and your precious firstborn can finally y happy family." She sounded fragile, for a split second- the little girl she used to be.
Tavon felt a wave of guilt and dropped his gaze. For a moment, it was like he''d caught a glimpse of his old, gentle daughter.
"I''m sorry, Sandy," he whispered. "I failed your mom. But this... it wasn''t Salma or Anastasia''s fault. I went to Riverdale to get away from your mom, but that was between us. No one else."
Sandy''s eyes Softened, sadness
f
flickering there. "I know. Mom loved you too much, tried to control everything. And you... you didn''t marry her because you wanted to. The Stanton family forced your hand. Mom never saw things clearly. All these years, you''ve been under the family''s thumb. I understand, Dad."
Her words were so understanding, so grown-up. For a second, Tavon almost believed she''d forgiven him.
He rubbed his face, regret weighing heavy. "Your mom was stubborn but she wasn''t mean. You''re right, I was selfish. I hurt her. I hurt Salma too Sandy, I just want to sit with your mom for a while."
He''d meant to ask about the letter that ended up online, but Sandy had thrown him offpletely.
"Okay," Sandy said softly, wiping at her eyes. "The doctor said talking to her might help. Maybe there''s still hope."
She slipped out, giving Tavon the room.
Outside, Sean hurried over as soon as he saw her. "What did Dad say?"
"He just apologized to Mom," Sandy said tiredly. "You should go home and rest, Sean. I''ll stay with Mom tonight."
"You''ve been here all day," Sean protested. “Let me take over. I''m your big brother. You look exhausted. Go get some sleep."
Since the Morton family dered bankruptcy, the debts were gone But Sandy had already moved some assets to safety before it all fell apart. She''d be okay-she always found a way.
"Alright, I''ll go home," Sandy agreed. "I''lle back tomorrow. Don''t wear yourself out, okay?"
Sean nodded. "Okay."
As Sandy left the hospital, her expression emptied out-cool and unreadable. She
slid into the car, leaned her head back, and let her memories take over.
She saw it all again: Ashley on the balcony, a hand giving her a gentle push, and then-Ashley falling, slipping away from everything.