His eyes close, and a strangled laugh leaves him. Smoothing his fingers over his face, he smiles at me. It’s pained. “I didn’t have anything to do with it, kitten. You’d have found your way through no matter what. Just like you found your way to Augustus in the first place. Just like you found your way to your first writing job. Just like you’ll find your way to being an incredible author in whatever capacity you deign. You were raised to obey, but you carved your own path out of immovable stone instead. And that has nothing to do with me or your parents or anyone else. That has everything to
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