His jaw tightened, something dangerous flickering behind his eyes. "Just wait. I'm going to kill that heartless bastard Brendan Sanchez right now."

"Enough. He and I are done. We have been for a while."

A cold edge crept into my voice. "After the divorce, we're strangers. He had no obligation to save me, so what's the point?"

Darrell nodded in agreement, though a shadow passed through his gaze. "You're right, sis. Which means not a single Henson resource should go to Brendan Sanchez from now on. I already looked into it. The place he's working now only exists because of Henson connections..."

"Fine. Do what you want, just don't make a scene." I shook my head with a sigh, but warmth flickered through me. My little brother had been fiercely protective of me since we were kids. He couldn't stand anyone wronging me, not even a little.

We chatted for a while before a few of the older relatives wandered in, all smiles. "Darrell, when did you start dating? Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Darrell looked completely baffled, pointing at himself. "Me? Dating?"

"That's right! Your girlfriend is quite something." One of the elders gestured toward the floor below. "She's already down there arranging the guests."

My brother, my father, and I all looked down at once.

It was Cindy Pruitt.

"What?" Darrell cracked his knuckles, a cold smirk cutting across his face. "That's the homewrecker Brendan brought in? Then I'd better go have a proper chat with her."

"Not so fast." I smiled and took the first step forward. "This scene is mine to play."

Cindy froze the moment she spotted me. "Debbie? What are you doing here?"

Then something seemed to click. She crossed her arms and let out a scornful laugh. "Oh, don't tell me you still can't let go. I'm warning you, the Sanchez family is already mine. If you have any dignity left, you'll leave now before the hosts show up and throw you out themselves."

"The hosts?" I bit back a laugh. "You don't even know whose party this is, do you?"

"I... of course I do!" Cindy shouted back, puffing herself up as if volume alone could make her right. "The guest of honor is obviously Brendan's father. He told me he'd introduce me today, and he said the birthday boy would definitely love a sweet girl like me."

"Then you're in for a disappointment. He can't stand sycophants. The only people he respects are the ones who actually get things done."