“Now,” I said, “you finish your dinner. The meal is complimentary, of course. I comp all family meals. I have been for 3 years.”
“Actually, every time you’ve visited Clear Water Bay, every meal you’ve charged to your room, every spa treatment and beach service, I’ve been covering it.”
“You’ve been paying for us?” and Sarah asked.
“Every visit,” I confirmed. “Because despite everything, you’re still family, and I wanted you to enjoy yourselves, even if you didn’t think I belonged here.”
Mom had tears in her eyes now.
“Emily, I’m so sorry. We had no idea.”
“No,” I interrupted gently. “You’re sorry you were wrong. That’s different from being sorry for how you treated me.”
“You spent years making me feel inadequate, and you enjoyed it. The only thing that’s changed is now you know I’m successful, so you have to adjust your narrative.”
“That’s not fair,” Jessica protested.
“Isn’t it?” I asked. “5 minutes ago, you were all agreeing that I’m average, that I have limitations, that I can’t appreciate fine dining or luxury experiences. Now that you know I own this place, suddenly you want to apologize.”
No one had an answer for that.
I stood up, placing my napkin on the table.
“Enjoy the rest of your dinner. Enjoy the resort. Your rooms are paid for, as always, but I think I’ll take my meals separately for the rest of the weekend.”
“Emily, please,” Mom said, reaching for my hand. “Don’t go like this. Let’s talk about this.”
“We’ve been talking,” I said quietly. “For years. You just haven’t been listening.”
I walked away from the table, aware of every eye in the restaurant following me.
Richard met me near the entrance, his professional composure firmly in place.
“Everything all right, Miss Thompson?” he asked quietly.
“Fine,” I said. “Just a family matter.”
“I apologize if my interruption caused any complications.”
“You did exactly right,” I assured him. “They were planning to help me pay for dinner since they assumed I couldn’t afford it.”
Richard’s expression didn’t change, but I saw something flash in his eyes.
“I see. Shall I arrange for separate dining accommodations for the remainder of their stay?”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take my meals in my suite. They can have the restaurant.”
“Of course. I’ll have Chef Marcus prepare something special and send it up.”
“Thank you, Richard.”
I headed toward the elevators, my phone already buzzing with texts.