Chapter 14 - CONSTANCE CALLS IT HER DUTY
Constance’s first public statement came through counsel.
She regretted destroying Milo’s toy.
She denied intending danger.
She said she had thrown the bear into a “contained fireplace” believing Milo would remain seated.
Video showed him dropping toward the hearth immediately.
She admitted knowing a family archive key might be inside.
Why?
Anton told her.
Then why destroy the bear?
Her lawyer wrote:
Ms. Caradonna believed the key related to private materials her brother never intended to circulate after his death and acted impulsively to prevent unnecessary family conflict.
Impulsively.
Maybe the throw.
Not the fourteen months of trying to separate Milo from Bruno.
Then:
She had devoted years to preserving Anton Caradonna’s expressed traditions and believed the documents inside the cabinet reflected illness-related ambivalence rather than stable intent.
There.
The defense.
Anton was sick.
Weak.
Changing his mind.
Constance was continuity.
I read it twice.
Then listened to a recording where my father said:
If Constance says illness makes me less myself because I disagree with her, ask the doctor whether cancer spreads into opinions.
I laughed.
He had prepared for her.
May you like
Not enough.
But some.
