Chapter 14 - The Final Visit
Before the final transfer to the state penitentiary, Ryan requested one single ten-minute meeting with Evelyn at the regional correctional facility.
He sat behind the thick glass divider, waiting until the heavy metal door clicked open.
Evelyn walked in wearing a plain blue prison uniform.
Her silver hair was cut short, stripped of its styling, and deep lines of age had etched themselves into her face.
She picked up the telephone handset on her side of the glass.
Ryan picked up his.
"Have you come to gloat?" Evelyn asked, her voice raspy and stripped of its former polish.
"No," Ryan said calmly.
"I came to tell you that we are moving away."
"You won't hear from us again, Mother."
Evelyn's eyes flashed with a faint remnant of her old anger.
"You destroyed this family's legacy for a woman who wasn't worthy of our name!"
"No, Mother," Ryan replied steadily.
"You destroyed it yourself."
"You thought power was about controlling people through fear and deception."
"You thought a hidden camera would be your ultimate weapon."
"But all it did was show the world who you really are."
Evelyn went silent, her hand trembling against the plastic receiver.
May you like
"Goodbye, Mother," Ryan said quietly.
He hung up the phone, stood up, and walked out of the visitor room without looking back.
