This time, even more people laughed.
Dozens of eyes turned toward me.
My face burned.
I wanted to disappear.
I reached for my purse.
“We’re leaving,” I whispered to Eli.
But my son caught my wrist.
His voice was remarkably calm.
“Not yet, Mom.”
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he stood.
🖤 The Black Gift Box
Eli reached beneath the table and pulled out his backpack.
Then he began walking toward his father.
The entire ballroom seemed to follow him with their eyes.
My ex stopped smiling.
Eli walked straight to the microphone.
My ex seemed to assume this was going to be some touching father-son moment.
Perhaps he imagined Eli would congratulate him.
Perhaps he expected everyone to applaud his role as a loving father.
Instead, Eli looked directly at him.
“Can I have the microphone?”
The room went silent.
My ex hesitated before handing it over.
