She still faced forward, staring out the windshield at the dark river. Her reflection in the glass looked ghostly.
"I've spent two years trying to be perfect for Mother. For the company. For the brand. I rebuilt myself after Father died into someone who could handle quarterly reports and brand partnerships and budget meetings with executives three times my age. I color-coded my emotions because feeling them was inefficient. I scheduled my breakdowns because spontaneous crying wastes time."
Her hands tightened on the steering wheel even though the car was off.
"And then you showed up and ruined everything. You questioned my strategies. You challenged my mother to her face. You looked at me like I was a person instead of the Valentine brand personified. And yesterday, when I asked you what I wanted for myself, you didn't tell me to think about the company. You didn't remind me about responsibilities. You just waited for my answer like it actually mattered."
