And Robert Harrison? He stood alone on the stage, the king of a ruined castle.
There was no party. No dancing. No cake.
The guests evaporated into the night, leaving only the echo of the truth. Michael sat in a chair, head in his hands. Sarah was with her mother. Robert had fled out the back exit like the coward he was.
I knelt before my son. “Michael?”
He looked up. His eyes were red, filled with a pain that cut me to the bone. “Why, Mom? Why did you do it here? You destroyed everything.”
“He destroyed it, Michael. Years ago. I just turned on the lights.”
“You humiliated me,” he choked out. “You humiliated Sarah.”
“I defended you. He was going to spend the rest of your life making you feel small. I stopped him.”
“I need to be alone,” he said, standing up. He walked away from me, out into the dark parking lot.
Sarah approached me then. Her mascara was running, her white dress stained with tears.
“Is it true?” she asked, her voice a broken whisper. “Everything you said?”
“Yes, Sarah. Here is the file.” I handed her the envelope.
She took it with trembling hands. “My dad… he has other children?”
