Chapter 6 - THOMAS'S LETTER
Daniel read the letter alone first.
Then with Hannah.
Thomas wrote:
I failed Lily by treating repeated humiliation as a marital disagreement instead of a parenting failure.
Daniel stopped.
He read again.
Thomas described Rebecca’s belief:
Service proves gratitude.
Work proves character.
Public obedience proves family unity.
She believed these things sincerely.
That sincerity made Thomas excuse too much.
Then:
Lily was not lazy. She was angry because she was being treated like help in her own home.
Daniel closed his eyes.
He remembered calling Lily spoiled.
Once.
Maybe twice.
Words borrowed from Rebecca.
Then Thomas wrote:
Daniel never saw the worst because Rebecca wanted him proud of the family. Lily was required to produce the family image Daniel was allowed to enjoy.
Hannah began crying.
Daniel said nothing.
Then the last section:
If Lily ever contacts you, listen before defending us.
Daniel whispered:
“He knew.”
Hannah nodded.
“Why didn’t he tell me while he was alive?”
The letter answered.
Thomas was ashamed.
He planned to repair things himself.
Then got sick.
Cancer.
Time shortened.
He contacted Lily privately and apologized.
She accepted limited contact.
But she still did not want Rebecca to know where she lived.
Then one line changed everything:
Rebecca intercepted my first letter to Lily and destroyed it.
Daniel stared.
How did Thomas know?
Lily later told him she never received it.
He found torn pieces in Rebecca’s desk.
Daniel looked at Hannah.
“This is not just history.”
“No.”
Rebecca had controlled contact before.
Was she doing it again?
Then Hannah showed Daniel one more message.
Two weeks after Lily contacted her, Hannah’s phone suddenly stopped receiving Lily’s texts.
Hannah assumed Lily backed away.
But Lily later emailed from a different account:
Did you block me?
Hannah had not.
Someone had.
Daniel checked the phone family-management settings.
Rebecca had administrative access from when she helped Hannah set up Noah’s parental controls during the condo move.
A blocked contact entry existed.
May you like
Lily Carter.
Added from Rebecca’s device.
