Then my father-in-law’s voice sliced through the heavy silence. He didn’t shout; he didn’t have to. His tone was steady, precise, and impossible to ignore.
“Well, son. If you want honesty, let’s have it. Tonight you’ve revealed exactly who you are — a complete fool. A coward. A man willing to humiliate his wife, his children, and this entire family for selfish reasons.”
Marcus’ smile flickered. It wavered just slightly.
His mother, who had been sitting frozen, slowly rose. Her face had drained of color, but her voice was controlled in a way I had never heard before — cold and deliberate.
“How could you?” she said quietly, staring at him. “How could you bring another woman — and display her pregnancy — into this house, to this table, in front of Claire and your children? Claire has given you everything. And you stand there flaunting Camille as though betrayal deserves applause?”
Marcus’ jaw tightened. His hand gripped Camille’s so tightly his knuckles whitened.
“I told you, I can’t live a lie anymore,” he insisted. “I love her.”
His father slammed his wine glass onto the table. The crack of glass against wood made everyone jump.