“You stepped back,” he corrected. “For things to settle down and for the company and employees. That’s bigger than running and hiding.” His jaw tightened. “I don’t blame my mother; I blame my father. He cheated on her. He never gave her a reason to stay. He was so arrogant about what he had done. He refused to back down and help her.”
“I’m sorry. Is your father still here? I don’t hear much about him now,” I asked gently.
“Never left,” he grumbled, then poured me a half glass of wine. “When he didn’t have to go to jail for stealing from those that invested in his business and not paying contractors, he took revenge on anyone that went against him. Anyone that’s around him now is there more out of fear than genuine friendship. I won’t have anything to do with him.” His pain was still raw.
