I understand now what I refused to understand then.

When someone is being exploited, staying neutral is not neutral at all.

It is choosing the side of the ones doing the exploiting.” His words landed hard, because they were true.

“I was never angry that you didn’t love me like a daughter, Arthur Sr.,” I told him.

“What hurt was knowing that you respected my work — truly respected it — and still never once found the courage to defend me against your own family.” He lowered his gaze, and did not disagree, because there was nothing to disagree with.

I kept my forty-three percent.