Vivienne called at 2 am in the morning. Alex almost didn't answer, but something made him pick up.
"You humiliated me," she said. No greeting, no preamble.
"I told the truth."
"You destroyed thirty years of work for a woman who's been dead for three years."
"I honored Lila's memory. There's a difference."
"Lila was weak. She couldn't handle the pressure."
Alex felt his jaw tighten. "Lila was strong enough to see what was wrong. You just punished her for it."
"I built that foundation from nothing. Every dollar, every program, every success—that was me."
"And every failure, every person you hurt, every line you crossed—that was also you."
Silence.
"I'm your mother," Vivienne said finally.
"Then act like one. Take responsibility instead of playing victim."
"I'll never forgive you
