Trailing behind her came Dorothy and George, looking deeply uncomfortable as they carried a large white cake decorated with garish red icing.

The message on the cake read, “Congratulations from your real mother.”

Joanna felt as though all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room, leaving her gasping in the middle of the crowd.

Denise made a beeline for Simon, who stood near the stage in his graduation gown and mortarboard, and opened her arms wide with a rehearsed smile.

“My beautiful baby, the day we’ve waited for is finally here at last,” she cooed, reaching out to pull him into a hug.

Simon didn’t move an inch. His posture stayed stiff as he scanned the room, his eyes searching desperately for Joanna.