Chapter 3 - THE BEGGING OF HYPOCRITES
“Daniel, please,” Rebecca stammered, her hands raised defensively. “You have to understand, I was under so much stress! The party, the guests—she was knocking things over, I just snapped! It was a mistake!”
My father stepped between us, his hands raised in a pacifying gesture. “Alright, alright. Let’s take this inside. Everyone, please, enjoy the food. We’re just having a family misunderstanding.” He turned to me, his voice dropping to a low, authoritative hiss. “Daniel. Stop this. You are humiliating us.”
“Humiliating you?” I repeated softly. I shifted Lily in my arms, pressing her face gently into my shoulder so she wouldn't have to look at them. “Your daughter assaulted my child. My wife’s dying wish was for me to protect her. And she was attacked in your home.”
My mother scurried forward, grabbing my forearm. “Daniel, listen to reason. You have that video. If that gets out, it will ruin Rebecca! Brad’s firm is about to make partner; a child abuse scandal would destroy his career. Think of Sophie! You can’t let this get out. Delete the video, Daniel. We’re family. Families protect each other.”
I looked at the woman who had given birth to me. I looked at the father who had taught me to ride a bike. I looked at the sister I had protected from bullies when we were young.
They weren't looking at Lily’s bruised face. They were looking at the phone in my pocket. They were begging me to lie, to swallow my daughter’s pain to preserve their pristine suburban facade.
“You think family protects each other?” I asked, my voice dropping to a chilling register that made my father take a step back. It was the voice of the Don. “Family does protect each other. But you are not my family anymore. Neither of you.”
“Daniel, be reasonable!” my father roared, reaching for me.
“If you touch me,” I said, locking eyes with him, “I will break your arm in front of your country club friends.”
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He froze. He saw the truth in my eyes. The civilized, legal businessman was gone.
“I am leaving,” I announced, projecting my voice so every single guest in the backyard could hear me. “And I promise you this, Rebecca. By tomorrow morning, you will have nothing left to protect.”
