Cold rage crashed against my ribs, but I forced it down, keeping my expression blank. I paused for a long moment, letting them sweat.
"Sure."
The room went still. They hadn't expected me to capitulate so easily.
"But I need to tell my mom first," I added. "She's the one who raised him. Now that he's... gone... if I don't explain it clearly, she'll make a scene. You know her temper."
Derek frowned. Mrs. Lawson opened her mouth to object, but Derek raised a hand to silence her. He studied me for a few seconds, weighing the risk.
Finally, he nodded.
"That's fair. Break the news gently. Don't let her get too worked up."
I pulled out my phone, opened WeChat, and started a video call.
Every pair of eyes fixed on me. The tension was suffocating.
Connect.
The screen lit up. My mother's face appeared, looking confused.
"Sarah? What's wrong? I thought you said you wouldn't be back until late?"
Behind her, on the living room carpet, a small figure sat with his back to the camera, engrossed in stacking building blocks.
"Mom," I said, my voice steady. "Put Ethan on. I want to say hi."