At 3 A.M., My Brother Dragged Me Out of My Bedroom While Dad Laughed—He Had No Idea What the Smoke Detector Had Recorded

“Are you saying I can live here only if I stop cooperating with the investigation?”

His face tightened.

“I’m saying families should settle their own problems.”

I held the socks.

Then placed them in the box.

“That’s not what you offered.”

He stared.

I continued packing.