Stephen sighed and shifted himself to the end of the bed, leaning back against one of the posts and pulling his knees up so he was sitting opposite Michael. "No, I've only received updates of the businesses from him. I think he's mostly washed his hands of me now he's gotten me married off," Stephen confessed, "He can't control me whilst I'm here, so I think he's gone the way of pretending I don't exist until I'm able to leave and he can take over again."
Stephen had never spoken so contemptuously about his father to Michael. Even when he'd disagreed with him, Stephen had still retained his respect as he'd been raised to do. But now Stephen found very little reason to care what his father would do to him. "I've no intention in letting him," He added. That felt like optimism.