Michael's Confession
Chapter 14 - Michael's Confession
Michael pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
Financial fraud.
Unlawful administration of medication.
Child abduction.
Forgery.
He avoided the longest possible sentence by cooperating with investigators and returning hidden assets.
Jonathan attended sentencing.
Not because he wanted revenge.
Because Emily couldn't.
Michael stood before the judge.
"I blamed everyone else."
His voice shook.
"I blamed my wife for questioning me."
"I blamed Jonathan for seeing through me."
"I blamed my children for being afraid."
He looked toward Jonathan.
"But I was the person they were afraid of."
The judge sentenced him to prison.
Not forever.
But long enough for Lily and Noah to grow without his immediate control.
Afterward, Jonathan visited Michael once.
Michael sat behind the glass.
"Why are you here?"
Jonathan picked up the phone.
"Because I need to know something."
Michael waited.
"Did Emily know you loved her?"
Michael closed his eyes.
"I think she knew I wanted her."
"That's not what I asked."
Michael began crying.
"No."
Jonathan's anger softened into something sadder.
"I loved my daughter."
Michael nodded.
"So did I."
Jonathan shook his head.
"You loved the version of her that obeyed you."
Michael had no answer.
Jonathan stood to leave.
"Will you tell the kids I said I'm sorry?"
"No."
Michael looked surprised.
"You'll tell them yourself someday."
Jonathan placed the phone down.
"When they're ready."
As he walked away, he realized something.
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Justice wasn't always watching someone suffer.
Sometimes justice was simply removing their power to make others suffer.
