I turned toward the house, each step sharp with anger.
Inside, Evelyn sat at the table eating cake, chatting with Anna. Music played softly; children’s voices floated from another room.
“Why is my daughter outside?” My voice sliced through the air.
The room went silent. Evelyn calmly set down her fork, dabbed her lips, and met my gaze.
“She is not part of this family,” she said evenly. “This party is for family and friends.”
The air left my lungs. Anna looked down at her plate.
“We didn’t want to ruin Ryan’s day,” she murmured. “We let Evelyn decide…”
“You left a little girl alone so you could eat cake?” My voice shook. “You see my child as a stranger? Shame on you both.”
