Every single person in that room had known. Every one of them had chosen to keep me in the dark. They had gathered around holiday tables, celebrated birthdays and milestones—while making sure I never knew he existed.
They had rewritten our family’s story.
And I was nothing but a footnote.
I exhaled shakily, blinking back tears. “Wow.” My voice was hoarse, but I forced out a laugh—sharp, bitter. “I spent years wondering why he left me.” I shook my head, my chest tightening. “Turns out, the only people who had the answer… were the ones I trusted most.”
Emily finally looked up, her eyes desperate. “Please, just let me explain—”
I held up my hand, cutting her off. “No,” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. “You already did.”
