Mom sat motionless at a table.
The DJ looked terrified.
As soon as I entered, several people turned toward me.
Dad pointed directly at me.
“You think destroying your sister’s wedding makes you some kind of hero?”
“No.”
My voice remained calm.
“It makes me free.”
He stepped toward me.
Uncle Grant grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.”
Dad tried to pull away.
“I’m his father.”
Then someone else spoke.
“You already embarrassed yourselves.”
Everyone turned.
It was my cousin Jenna.
She stood from her table.
“We’ve watched this for years.”
Dad stared at her.
“The favoritism. The way you treat Ian like he barely belongs here. None of this is new. It’s just finally on camera.”
Murmurs spread throughout the room.
Other people started agreeing.
Quietly at first.
Then openly.
For the first time, the version of our family my parents had carefully maintained in public was collapsing.
I walked past Dad toward the head table.
The wedding cake stood untouched.
Elise looked at me through streaked mascara.
