At a crowded family barbecue, my ex-mother-in-law made fun of me while everyone laughed. Suddenly, my son climbed onto a chair and said, « Grandma, there’s something Dad doesn’t want you to know. » At that precise moment, all the smiles vanished.

Behind us, the door burst open. Mark came out, his face red with anger. « So, that’s it? Everyone’s on his side now? Because of some kid who misunderstood? »

But he didn’t seem confident. He seemed desperate. For years, I’d controlled the narrative, presenting myself as the unstable, dramatic one, the problem. Now, with a few sincere words from Ethan, that carefully constructed image had crumbled.

Linda turned to her son. « Mark, you told me she destroyed your marriage. »

« I don’t have…, » he began.

But his brother interrupted him. « Dude, you told all of us. »

Mark took a step back, his eyes narrowed. He realized, slowly and painfully, that this time, no story could be invented quickly enough to save face.

I don’t have