Chapter 4: Breaking the Pattern
Statements were taken.
Reports filed.
Preston was led out—not in handcuffs yet, but close enough that the illusion was gone.
My mother tried to follow him.
An officer stopped her.
“You can’t interfere.”
She looked stunned.
As if the world had broken its rules.
As if consequences were something that happened to other people.
My father didn’t move.
For the first time in my life—
He looked small.
Not powerful.
Not in control.
Just… small.
He turned to me.
“Evelyn,” he said quietly, “we can still manage this.”
I almost laughed.
“No,” I said. “You can’t.”
I adjusted Sophie in my arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“You don’t get to manage this,” I continued. “You don’t get to rewrite it. You don’t get to protect him anymore.”
“He’s your brother.”
“And she’s my daughter.”
That was the difference.
That had always been the difference.
I walked past him.
May you like
And for once—
I didn’t look back.
