Perhaps she believed a short exclusion would make a point.

Perhaps she expected Lily to become quiet, return to the room, and stop interrupting.

Whatever she’d imagined, she had still made the decision.

And Lily had been frightened.

I wasn’t going to erase that because Vanessa disliked being held accountable.

I didn’t respond immediately.

Later, I wrote that future contact would depend on whether she could respect Lily’s safety and boundaries.

No public argument.