Dad stared at me.

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Suddenly everyone was talking.

And for the first time all evening, nobody was ignoring me.

Ryan followed as I headed toward the hallway.

“Ethan, stop.”

His hand closed around my forearm.

I looked down.

He immediately released me.

“This isn’t something you can just cancel because you’re upset.”

“I’m not upset anymore.”

That frightened him more than shouting would have.

Claire stood behind him.

“What are you talking about? What guarantee?”

Ryan didn’t answer.

Apparently, she knew even less about her husband’s finances than I thought.

Dad pushed back his chair.

“Everyone calm down.”

I almost laughed.

Dad had spent twenty years using volume as authority. Anyone who disagreed became “dramatic,” “ungrateful,” or “too sensitive.”

Now he wanted calm.

“Sit down, Ethan.”

“No.”

His jaw tightened.

“There are guests here.”

“There were guests here when you humiliated me.”

“What exactly are you threatening?”

“Nothing. I’m informing you.”