Chapter 48: Figure It Out Yourself

"Actually, regarding Stephanie, it's my dad who wronged you. Every time that line floated back, it pricked like a thorn. From the start, I had clung to the hope that Stephanie had reasons she could not speak aloud. Society can be pretty corrupting, but it doesn't change you that fast. I had kept believing Stephanie was a kind soul. The truth, though, showed I lacked guile. Watching her tuck a stray lock behind her ear, I hesitated, then asked quietly, "Stephanie… you had your reasons, didn't...