Chapter 10 - ALEX'S FAILURE
Alex wanted to put everything on Derek and Teresa.
Then Rachel gave him Clara’s unsent draft email.
Not about them.
About him.
ALEX—
I am exhausted from being the person who sees the cracks in your family and then gets told I’m overreacting because you don’t want to fight with them.
Alex stopped reading.
Claire—Clara—continued:
Derek borrows.
Your mother covers.
You rescue.
Everyone calls it loyalty.
Then:
I don’t think you understand how lonely it is to be married to someone who only believes danger after it becomes expensive.
Alex closed his eyes.
He had defended Derek before.
Not this fraud.
But patterns.
Late repayments.
Questionable partnerships.
Family loans.
Teresa’s excuses.
Clara had warned him.
He said:
“He’ll figure it out.”
Or:
“Mom won’t let him fail.”
He thought neutrality preserved peace.
It forced Clara to be the only person saying no.
Then Lily’s words returned.
Mommy was scared.
She kept calling you.
Alex had not been reachable.
Not intentionally.
May you like
Still.
The emotional truth hurt more than the legal one.
