Chapter 8 - The True Value
Thanksgiving dinner was modest compared to the extravagant galas Claire’s family used to host, but it was filled with genuine warmth. Claire’s parents were not there; they had grown distant once Daniel stopped maintaining his wealthy facade—a loss Daniel now viewed as a blessing in disguise.
After dinner, Daniel and Margaret sat on the back patio with hot cider.
"I checked my old bank statements last week," Daniel said quietly. "Over fourteen years, you gave me nearly a million dollars."
"I did," Margaret admitted.
"And it almost destroyed me," Daniel said. "If you hadn't cut me off that night, I would have kept taking until there was nothing left of either of us."
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"Cutting you off was the hardest thing I ever did," Margaret said, watching the amber leaves fall in the yard. "But keeping you dependent was hurting you more than helping you."
Daniel took her hand. "You saved my family, Mom. Not with your money, but by stopping it."
