She was not a manipulated victim; she was his partner.

They had been lovers when they were young.

It was Renata who had warned Cyrus, eighteen years ago, that my father meant to expose him.

After my father died, it was Renata who convinced Aldous to absorb the Parker operations under the banner of protection.

And years later, it was Renata who had encouraged my marriage to her son — not because she wanted me as a daughter, but because she needed me close, and manageable, and tied to the family by the time I came of age to claim the trust.

My whole marriage had been useful to her before I was old enough to understand what love even was.