Silence. Not a comfortable one. Not an easy one.
The kind of that pressed heavy in the air, wrapping around Riley like a noose.
And suddenly, I understood.
Riley had barely reacted to Brittany’s teasing, had brushed it off like she had done a thousand times before. But this? This was different.
Because this wasn’t an offhanded remark.
This was a calculated strike.
A reminder.
I glanced at Riley, watching the way her entire body went unnaturally still. She didn’t look at her stepmother. She didn’t look at anyone.
And that’s when I knew, her stepmother hadn’t said it to defend her.
She had said it to hurt her.
To force her to relive the worst moment of her life at this very table, in front of people who either didn’t care or were enjoying watching her squirm.
Riley’s father shifte
