She said nothing.
Mom continued.
“I think it’s time for you to stop being stubborn.”
Aunt Martha nodded.
Dad did not look at me.
Mom reached for her coffee.
“You need to step up for your blood.”
I placed my napkin beside my plate.
“I already gave her four thousand dollars.”
“And that was generous.”
“Apparently not generous enough.”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
I looked at Chloe.
She still would not meet my eyes.
“I’m not giving another twelve.”
Mom’s expression hardened.
“I truly don’t understand you.”
“Okay.”
“No, Leo.”
Her voice rose.
“I mean it.”
“You have always been like this.”
“Like what?”
“Detached.”
“Selfish.”
That word landed differently.
Thirty-two years.
Different cars.
Different college support.
Different expectations.
Different rules.
Still, somehow, selfish.
Mom continued.
“You sit there hoarding your little savings account while your sister’s life has been destroyed.”
I looked across the table at Chloe.
She stared downward.
“She is the victim here.”
That did it.
Something inside me stopped bending.
Not exploded.
Stopped.
I set my fork down.
“Maybe she shouldn’t have cheated on Ethan.”
Silence.
Absolute.
Uncomfortable.
Unmistakable.
Dad slowly lifted his head.
Aunt Martha’s spoon slipped from her fingers.
It hit the saucer with a bright ceramic click.
Mom’s face went white.
Chloe looked at me.
“What?”
Her voice barely existed.
I met her eyes.
“I know about Julian.”
The fear was instant.
Not confusion.
Fear.
That confirmed more than Nolan ever could.
Mom looked at Chloe.
Then at me.
“What is he talking about?”
Chloe’s eyes filled.
“He’s lying.”
I continued.
“Seven months.”
“Leo.”
“Hotel bookings.”
“Stop.”
“Messages on the iPad.”
“Stop it.”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars from your joint account.”
Chloe stood.
Her chair scraped backward.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know Ethan found everything.”
Mom stared at her.
“Chloe?”
Chloe immediately started crying.
Not quiet tears.
Full panic.
“Ethan put him up to this.”
I shook my head.
“He hasn’t spoken to me.”
“He’s manipulating you.”
“I heard it from Nolan.”
“He hates me.”
“Nolan was Ethan’s friend before he ever met you.”
Mom suddenly stood.
She pointed at me.
“How dare you.”
I looked at her.
I honestly expected:
Is this true?
Instead:
“How dare you come into my house and humiliate your sister?”
My chest went cold.
“Mom.”
“You have always been jealous.”
There it was.
The explanation she needed.
Not evidence.