Page 63 of The Weight of Her Silence
A pause.
"I hope someday, you forgive your father. Not for him—but for you. Letting go isn’t weakness, my love. It’s healing. And you deserve to heal."
She ended it softly."I love you, Ava. Always."
Lila pressed stop.
She sat still for a long time before starting the next.
"Hey, Caleb..."
Her voice broke immediately. She took a few moments to breathe before continuing.
"My sweet boy. You always made me laugh, even on the worst days. You came into this world with a crooked smile and this stubborn streak I saw in your eyes before you could talk. That fire in you—it’s beautiful. Don’t let it burn you from the inside. Use it to protect what matters. Use it to stand tall."
She wiped a tear away with the back of her hand.
"I know things got confusing. I know you saw more than you said. And I’m sorry. I wanted to shield you from it all. But you’re smart, Caleb. You saw truths I wasn’t ready to face. That doesn’t make you wrong. That makes you strong."
She paused, biting her lip.
"I won’t be there for every game or every heartbreak. But I want you to know this—you were always enough. Always. Not for who you might become, but for who you already are."
She smiled sadly."I love you, kiddo. Be kind. Be wild. And be free."
She stopped the recording. Her hand trembled now.
Two messages. Two pieces of her heart.
She set the phone down and stared at the pale light spilling across the vanity. Her reflection was thinner, softer, a ghost of the woman she once was. But her eyes—her eyes were still hers.
Lila didn’t cry. Not now.
There was still time. A little.
Just enough to tuck these messages away—carefully labeled and saved in a folder no one would open until they had to.
And then… maybe one more message.
For Nate.
Chapter 40
Camille’s Ultimatum
The evening air was thick with rain as Nate sat alone in the dim glow of his study. The house felt heavy — the quiet weighed on him like a stone, pressing deeper with every passing day. His phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at the screen: Camille.
He hesitated, then answered.
“Where are you?” Camille’s voice was sharp, urgent.
“Home,” Nate said, trying to keep his tone even, but it came out strained.
There was a pause.
“I’m coming over,” she said.
“No, Camille—”
