Madeline laughed hysterically. “You promised me there was no baby! You said she was lying!”

I pulled my daughter closer, my entire body shaking with anger and exhaustion. “Get her out,” I said quietly.

Ethan turned to Madeline, his voice low and stunned. “You told me she wasn’t pregnant anymore. You swore.”

She folded her arms. “Because if you knew the truth, you would’ve gone back to her.”

That was when it finally clicked for him.

He collapsed into the chair beside my bed, burying his face in his hands. “I destroyed my family over a lie.”

I felt no triumph—only exhaustion. “No,” I said calmly. “You destroyed it because you chose not to trust me.”

Madeline sneered. “Oh, come on. She probably got pregnant on purpose.”

Ethan shot to his feet so abruptly that the chair toppled over. “Get out,” he said coldly. “Now.”

Security led her away as she continued shouting about money, reputation, and what people would say. When the door finally shut, the silence in the room felt heavy.