CHAPTER 4 — THE FALL
Security arrived quietly.
No drama.
No shouting.
Just movement.
Joan tried one last time.
She turned to me.
“Dakota, tell him I didn’t—”
But I didn’t move.
Not because I hated her.
But because I finally understood.
Silence had built this moment.
Years of silence.
Years of letting things slide.
Years of choosing peace over truth.
Madison grabbed her mother’s arm.
“Mom, what did you do?”
That was the moment Joan broke.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… empty.
As security escorted her away, she looked back at my father.
And whispered:
“You’ll regret this.”
But he didn’t answer.
May you like
Because for the first time—
he didn’t believe her anymore.
