“And don’t ever call her a babysitter again, because she’s the only mother I’ve ever known.”

Dorothy let the cake box drop to the floor, the cardboard splitting open and spilling the ruined, red-lettered confection across the carpet.

Nobody moved to pick it up, as if the mess were simply the family’s broken trust made visible.

Denise tried to reach for Simon, but he stepped back, shielding Joanna from her.

“We can talk when you’re ready to be honest—if you ever truly want to apologize. But not today, because today belongs to her,” he said.

Jonathan pulled the engagement ring off his finger, set it on a nearby chair, and walked away without a backward glance.