Chapter 6 - BIANCA FINALLY ADMITTED SHE WAS JEALOUS OF A DEAD WOMAN
Months into proceedings, Bianca requested mediated statement.
I almost refused.
Dr. Chen said only if Lucy not involved.
Good.
I went.
Bianca looked smaller.
No luxury clothes.
No performance.
She said:
“I hated Elena.”
I stared.
“They never met much? Bianca knew her before death? Let's establish Bianca had been a family acquaintance before marriage, knew Elena socially. Fine.
“Why?”
“Because she was still everywhere.”
Photos.
Lucy’s stories.
My grief.
Trust documents.
House design.
Even recipes.
Bianca married into a home where dead wife remained beloved.
I had not realized how much that bothered her.
Then:
“Why marry me?”
“I loved you.”
“Then why punish Lucy?”
She cried.
“Because every time she said Mommy, I felt second.”
That was monstrous and human.
“She was six.”
“I know.”
“Did you know then?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“You wanted her to call you Mom.”
“Yes.”
“Did she have to?”
“No.”
“Then why make it punishment?”
“Because I thought if she accepted me, you would too.”
“I already married you.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Not like her.”
There.
Competition with dead woman.
Then Marcus introduced financial opportunity.
He told Bianca:
“If you’re doing all this work, trust should pay.”
At first she rejected.
Then considered.
She felt entitled.
She said:
“I was raising someone else’s child.”
That sentence.
I stopped.
“She was my child.”
“I know.”
“No. You thought care created debt.”
Silence.
Then:
“Did you force dog bowl before or after billing scheme?”
Before.
Important.
Abuse not created solely by money.
Money institutionalized.
Then:
“Why the laundry room?”
“Because it was quiet.”
“And dark.”
“She calmed down faster.”
Fear looks like calm.
Then:
“Did you ever think she was afraid?”
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Why continue?”
Bianca whispered:
“Because fear worked.”
That sentence ended any remaining confusion.
Control.
Not discipline.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
Specific later:
“For using Elena’s memory against Lucy.”
“For making her afraid of crying.”
“For locking her in dark.”
“For letting Marcus turn punishment into invoices.”
“For lying to you.”
I accepted hearing.
Not forgiveness.
Then divorce completed.
She received fair marital share under law/prenup.
No “left penniless” fantasy.
She paid restitution from her assets where ordered.
May you like
No contact with Lucy.
That was justice enough.
