Watch your tone was the stop sign.
“Dad,” I said, trying to stay level. “Lucas got a broken toy from a dollar store while everyone else got electronics. You and Mom lied about being broke. Why shouldn’t people know that?”
He scoffed.
“We don’t owe you explanations for how we spend our money. Maybe we thought Melissa’s kids needed it more.”
That line hit me like a punch.
“They’re not exactly starving, Dad. They have two parents, both working, both well off. Lucas and I are fine, too. But that’s not the point. It’s about fairness.”
“Life’s not fair,” he said with that smug tone he used when he thought he was teaching a lesson. “You of all people should know that.”
I took a deep breath.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I learned it from you.”
And I hung up.
After that, things escalated fast.
