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The Gate House :: Demille Nelson
Страница: 424 из 490I have forgiven her, unconditionally, and forgiven myself while I was at it, but it will take me some time to regain my professional standing here in New York and to achieve an income that will provide your daughter with a lifestyle to which she has become accustomed.” I added, “And let me remind you, William, that it was you and Charlotte who always insisted that Susan not work, and you induced her not to work by giving her an allowance, and I’m sorry I acquiesced to that. And as a result of her being kept by you all her life, she is not presently employable in any financially rewarding job – and you are partly to blame for that, so you need to take some responsibility.”
William apparently didn’t want to be confused or influenced by inconvenient facts, so he replied simply, “I say again, if she marries you, her allowance is terminated.”
“Fine. Susan and I discussed this possibility, and it does not affect our decision to marry.”
This time he smirked, and said, “Susan may want to rethink that.”
Fuck you. I said, “ You may want to rethink being so petty, manipulative, and spiteful.”
“I will not be spoken to in that manner.”
“William, every word of that is true.”
He looked like he was about to take his cards and leave, but he had another ace to play, and he said, “Also, if you marry, I will remove Susan as a beneficiary of my and Charlotte’s wills.”
Now we’re talking real money. I mean, both of them dying and leaving Susan close to fifty million were key ingredients to a blissful marriage. Especially him dying. I let him know, “If you do that, I will tie up the estate in litigation for at least ten years.” I added, “Peter may find that inconvenient.”
He was really hot now, and his face reddened again. High blood pressure?
My future father-in-law said to me, “That is the most outrageous thing you have ever said.”
“No it’s not. Come on. Think.”
“You…” He stood, and I waited for him to topple over, but he didn’t, so I, too, stood and said, “You’ve insulted me with your offer to buy me. I am not for sale.” I informed him, “I don’t give a damn about your money, and neither does Susan. And you don’t give a damn about your daughter. This is about me and you, and not her happiness. You know damned well that we are happy to be together again, and our children are happy for us. You, William, are very unhappy that I’m back in your life, and you’d rather lose your daughter than gain a son-in-law who doesn’t put up with your bullshit. So, sir, you’ve made your decision, and Susan and I have made ours.”
He didn’t seem to react much to my harangue – he just stood there and looked off into space.
William apparently didn’t want to be confused or influenced by inconvenient facts, so he replied simply, “I say again, if she marries you, her allowance is terminated.”
“Fine. Susan and I discussed this possibility, and it does not affect our decision to marry.”
This time he smirked, and said, “Susan may want to rethink that.”
Fuck you. I said, “ You may want to rethink being so petty, manipulative, and spiteful.”
“I will not be spoken to in that manner.”
“William, every word of that is true.”
He looked like he was about to take his cards and leave, but he had another ace to play, and he said, “Also, if you marry, I will remove Susan as a beneficiary of my and Charlotte’s wills.”
Now we’re talking real money. I mean, both of them dying and leaving Susan close to fifty million were key ingredients to a blissful marriage. Especially him dying. I let him know, “If you do that, I will tie up the estate in litigation for at least ten years.” I added, “Peter may find that inconvenient.”
He was really hot now, and his face reddened again. High blood pressure?
My future father-in-law said to me, “That is the most outrageous thing you have ever said.”
“No it’s not. Come on. Think.”
“You…” He stood, and I waited for him to topple over, but he didn’t, so I, too, stood and said, “You’ve insulted me with your offer to buy me. I am not for sale.” I informed him, “I don’t give a damn about your money, and neither does Susan. And you don’t give a damn about your daughter. This is about me and you, and not her happiness. You know damned well that we are happy to be together again, and our children are happy for us. You, William, are very unhappy that I’m back in your life, and you’d rather lose your daughter than gain a son-in-law who doesn’t put up with your bullshit. So, sir, you’ve made your decision, and Susan and I have made ours.”
He didn’t seem to react much to my harangue – he just stood there and looked off into space.