“Daddy never had time for me growing up,” Emma explained. “The university came first. The university, then Mom and her cancer, then me. All he wanted from me was to not cause him any embarrassment.”
“That’s terrible,” Tony said.
“Shut up,” Emma hissed. “Spare me your pity.”
Tony nodded. Trying to talk her down had been a mistake.
“The Valences were frequent dinner guests. I had a girl-crush on Simon, as I’m sure all his female students did. He was just that kind of man. But I was different. He adored me. He read to me and constantly shared quotations. He bought me books and took me to plays, with Daddy’s permission, of course. He made me feel like I mattered. Like I was capable of becoming anything. Like I was an adult!

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