Carol didn’t flinch. She simply set down her fork, dabbed her lips, and met my gaze.
“Ellie is not part of this family,” she said evenly. “This is an event for family and friends.”
The words knocked the air out of me.
For a moment, I couldn’t even process them.
Sarah looked down, her face flushed.
“We didn’t want to ruin Jason’s day with a fight…” she said quietly. “Mark and I decided to let Carol handle it…”
“You let her sit outside alone,” I said, my voice shaking with controlled anger. “You let a little girl cry in the backyard so you could enjoy your cake. You see my child as a stranger?”
I looked directly at Carol.
“You’re pathetic, Carol.”
Then at Sarah.
“And you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re a mother.”
I turned and walked out.
Not because I was finished—but because if I stayed, I would make a scene no one would forget.
No one said a word.
Ellie didn’t let go of Daniel the entire ride home.
Every few minutes, she reached out to touch my shoulder.
When we parked, I climbed into the backseat with them, brushing her hair away from her face.
“I’m proud of you, baby,” I whispered. “You did nothing wrong. You were so, so brave.”
She nodded silently.
