Chapter 12 - DANIEL'S BEST ARGUMENT
Daniel’s best defense was not about mango.
It was about fear.
He said:
“I thought we were going to lose sixty thousand dollars.”
Emily answered:
“You mean the sixty thousand you invested without telling me.”
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
“I panicked.”
“Then you panicked again.”
“What does that mean?”
“You hid the investment because you thought I’d say no.”
Daniel looked down.
“You minimized the complaint because you thought the answer might cost money.”
He said nothing.
“You put mango in my food because you thought my body might give you the answer you wanted.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Three decisions.
Same pattern.
When reality threatened him with a no, he changed the conditions until no became harder to hear.
He finally said:
“I never thought you’d get seriously hurt.”
Emily answered:
“That is not the same as asking whether I agreed to the risk.”
Daniel looked at her.
For the first time, he had no financial argument left.
During the separation, Daniel asked Emily one question that mattered.
“Do you think I wanted to hurt you?”
She answered:
“No.”
He looked relieved too quickly.
Then Emily continued:
“I think you decided hurting me a little was acceptable if it protected something you were afraid to lose.”
Daniel’s face changed.
That was worse.
May you like
Intent had been his refuge.
Emily removed it without calling him a monster.
