"My disdain is so strong because I love you. You deserved so much better, Clive." And it wouldn't have been too difficult to achieve, she thinks, had his father done more. "My hope is that one day you see that. You were always worthy of affection and love, and you deserved it simply by being you. Not because of the role you were to play."

She squeezes his hand.

"I know you'd never treat our children as such." But.