“Do you love her?” I ask.
He nods. That hurts, but I hide it for now.
“Then you should do what’s right,” I say earnestly. “Start divorce proceedings. Move out of the house and sign it over to Mum. And show Ataahua that you’re serious about her.”
He leans forward, his elbows on the table, and rests his face in his hands, then dips his head, running his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t want you to find out.”
I wonder why. Because he didn’t want to lose my respect? Because he feels ashamed? “This sort of thing doesn’t stay hidden forever. Look, I know you’re worried about the business, but I think being honest and doing the right thing looks much better than being discovered having an affair.”
He lowers his hands and gives me a half-hearted smile. “When did you get so wise?”
“Oh, I’ve made my mistakes, you know that. But I’m trying to learn from them.”
“You mean Chessie?”
“She’s not a mistake,” I snap.
He holds up a hand. “I mean, is she helping you learn from them?”
“Oh. Yes. Definitely.”
“You really like this girl, don’t you?” he asks softly.
I study my hands for a moment. Then I say, “She’s asked for a prenup that states she doesn’t want any of my money if we break up.”
He stares at me. Then he leans back in his chair. “Really?”
“Yeah. She wants you to know that she’s not after my money.”
He lowers his gaze. Then he sighs. “I suppose I asked for that.”
“She understood why you think that’s likely to be the case. That’s why she wants the clause. Dad… I think we’ve both learned that the person who is right for us isn’t necessarily the one that seems the most suitable. Love takes no notice of money or social standing. Chessie isn’t from my world… but she appeals to me greatly because of that. She’s not pretentious at all. She doesn’t care about labels or flash cars. What’s important to heris her friends and family, and living a good and happy life. She’s good for me, Dad. She grounds me, and lifts me up at the same time. She makes me feel like a better man.”
He looks surprised. “I never thought I’d hear you say anything like that.” His lips take on a cynical twist.
“You taught me how to be respected in business,” I tell him. “You made me what I am today. A financial powerhouse. I’m strong, confident, and authoritative. You showed me how to be hard, even brutal, when I need to be. I’ll always be grateful to you for that. But I’m not sure you taught me how to be a good man.”
His smile fades.
“Chessie said I’ve always been like a bull in a china shop,” I continue, “and she was right. I’ve barged my way through life, trampling over others to get where I needed to be. But she told me the fable about the North Wind and the Sun—that persuasion is better than force—and she’s right. It was like a revelation to me.”
“You’ve always been charismatic,” Dad says, “you’ve always known how to use charm to get what you want.”
“Yes, but it’s been a tool, the same as brute force when I need it. Chessie’s taught me how to genuinely care. And I want to use that going forward, with the Foundation. I don’t want to teach the kids how to succeed in business. I want to teach them how to be better people.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Maybe she has been good for you after all.”
“I don’t think Mum made you feel like a better man.” It’s not easy to say, but I force the words out. “Does Ataahua?”
He looks away, out at the garden.
“Don’t see what’s happened with Mum as a failure,” I tell him. “It’s a successful marriage that has come to an end. Let her go, Dad, and move on. She deserves better.”
He leans an elbow on the arm of the chair and lifts a hand to rest on his lips. His eyes have turned glassy. Whoa. I can count the number of times I’ve seen him get emotional on the fingers of one hand.
I rise to my feet. “Think about it,” I tell him. “But if you don’t let her have the house, I’ll tell you now that I’ll take her side, and I’ll help her fight you for it. I don’t blame you for the breakdown of your marriage. But I do blame you for having an affair. She never deserved that.”
He doesn’t look at me. I wait a moment, then I turn and leave the office.