“You told her I wanted out.”
“You were distant.”
“I was working.”
“You were always working.”
The anger rose in me, hot and clean. “I was working because we agreed to build a life. I was working because you wanted to start your own firm. I was working because every time I asked why our savings were lower, you said the business needed one more month.”
His eyes lifted to mine.
That was when I knew there was more.
“What did you do?” I asked.
Daniel’s mouth tightened.
Mom entered the kitchen before he could speak. “This is not the time to interrogate him.”
“It is exactly the time.”
Dad put his glass down too hard on the counter. “Enough. Your sister is married now. You can either accept what has happened with some dignity, or you can tear this family apart.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I said, “You knew.”
Dad did not deny it.
Mom’s face turned pale.
“How long?” I asked.
“Daniel came to us in January,” Dad said. “He was miserable.”
“And Chelsea?”
“Chelsea was lonely,” Mom said quietly. “She had spent years waiting for someone to choose her.”
I felt something inside me snap into a shape I could finally understand.
They had not stumbled into a terrible mistake.
They had all sat together, passed my life between them, and decided I would survive whatever was left.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
An email from Maribel at the catering company had arrived.
Attached were the contract, payment ledger, guest list, venue photographs, and a chain of emails.
The first message was from Daniel.
Please bill all remaining charges to Haley Ward. She has authorized me to handle the household account.
The next message was from Chelsea.
Can you make sure no one contacts Haley before Sunday? She is away until then.
