I never told my family that I was secretly paying one million dollars a year for my sister’s son’s education after she went bankrupt. They believed he was “brilliant” enough to get a merit scholarship. At the will reading, my parents proudly announced, “Everything goes to our genius grandson. He’s the future of this family.”

Incident Report: Bryce. Freshman injured. Witnesses confirm unprovoked assault. Board demands action. Authorize expulsion?

My thumb hovered over the screen. I looked at my mother beaming with pride. I looked at Vivian already imagining herself in a new life. I looked at Bryce—smirking, untouchable, delighted by his own legend.

“I run that school,” he repeated, and this time he winked at me like we shared a secret.

I set my phone face down on the side table.

The will reading ended, and the room immediately turned celebratory. Vivian popped champagne like she’d already won. My mother lifted her glass with a satisfied tremble. They toasted Bryce as if he’d climbed a mountain, not been carried up it.

Sophie shifted on my lap, startled by the clink of crystal. Her juice box tipped and a few drops splashed onto the patterned rug.

Her eyes went wide. “Mommy… I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said quickly, already reaching for a napkin.

Bryce stood and walked over, staring at the tiny stain like it was a personal insult. Then he looked down at my child.

“You clumsy little brat,” he snapped.

My stomach went cold. “Bryce, it was an accident. I’ll clean it.”

He didn’t just glare. He moved.