“I did it for the family,” Victoria snapped. “People were asking questions. We couldn’t ignore the baby forever, no matter how inconvenient her arrival was.”
Behind her appeared Sabrina in a champagne silk dress that cost more than Caroline’s car. She held a glass of rosé, her eyes icy.
“Congratulations,” Sabrina said, spitting the word like shards of glass. “Mom says you finally decided to show up.”
“Hi, Sabrina. You look… nice.”
“Yes, well, I have time to take care of myself,” Sabrina replied. “I’m not tied down by a biological miscalculation.”
Caroline felt a surge of anger, but Lucas touched her back.
Peace, that touch said.
Just hold on.
The party blurred into awkwardness. Guests—mostly Victoria’s country-club friends—made polite noises but kept a strange distance, as if warned not to celebrate too warmly.
In a corner sat Caroline’s father, Walter Harrington, slumped in a folding chair. A once-brilliant history teacher, decades under Victoria’s thumb had crushed him into quiet obedience.
When Caroline approached, he gave her a tired smile and touched Emma’s tiny hand.
“She’s beautiful, sweetheart,” he whispered. “She looks like my mother.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Caroline wanted to shake him, beg him to finally stand up for her—but she knew better. Walter Harrington had surrendered long ago.
As the sun sank, Victoria clapped sharply.
“Everyone! To the stone fire pit! Time for a very special family tradition!”
Caroline frowned. “We’ve never had fire-pit traditions,” she whispered.
The guests gathered around the roaring flames. The heat was intense.
Victoria stood before the fire, the orange glow bending her face into something dark.
“Caroline,” she ordered. “Bring the baby.”
“She’s sleeping, Mom.”
“Bring her. It is time to present her to the ancestors.”
It was bizarre. But with thirty guests watching, Caroline stepped forward.
“Let me hold her,” Victoria said, extending her arms.
A siren of instinct screamed inside Caroline—but she handed Emma over.
Victoria held the baby stiffly, like something contaminated. Sabrina drifted closer, refilling her wine.
“You gave birth before your sister,” Victoria declared loudly. “You violated the sacred order of our family.”
Guests murmured. The air tightened.
“Mom, stop this,” Caroline said.
“You humiliated your sister,” Sabrina hissed. “You stole the life she deserved.”
Victoria lifted Emma higher. The baby began to cry.