“I raised you to recognize the truth,” I said.

“The truth is that Vanessa loves me,” Ethan said.

“Look, if you can’t support the woman I’m going to marry, maybe you shouldn’t be involved at all.”

The threat hung there between us.

It was a formal warning, coldly delivered by the child I’d brought up on my own.

“Are you telling me to back out of your life?” I asked.

“I’m telling you to let Vanessa run her own wedding,” Ethan said.