At 11:03, Patricia sent Daniel a message. “We made a mistake. Don’t punish us publicly.”

Scott sent another. “The media is twisting everything. Come downstairs and fix this.”

Daniel read both twice. Neither contained the words We are sorry. Neither asked whether Lily was awake. Neither asked whether Daniel needed help.

They were not worried about Lily. They were worried about themselves.

Daniel opened the family group chat. Beneath Patricia’s message sat the photograph of Lily unconscious in her hospital bed. He typed slowly. “You had the truth before the news did.

The only thing that changed is that now the world is watching.”