“Power of attorney?”
Ethan looked at her.
“Baby, listen—”
She slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Everyone froze.
“You told me Dad needed me to sign those documents because he was getting forgetful.”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Lily, don’t embarrass us.”
She gave a broken, furious laugh.
“Us?”
Something returned to my daughter’s face.
Not confidence.
Memory.
She remembered who she had been before Ethan taught her to apologize for existing.
I turned toward her.
“You hurt me tonight.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
“I won’t pretend you didn’t.”
She nodded.
“But,” I continued, “you can decide what happens next.”
Ethan slammed both hands onto the table.
“This is my marriage. Stay out of it.”
I looked at him.
“You made my daughter part of a fraud scheme. You brought me into it.”
Security moved closer.
Ethan pointed at me.
“You think money makes you powerful?”
