He grabbed a muffin from the display, dropped a bill on the counter like he was doing us a favor, and turned to my sons with a bright smile.
“See you tonight, family,” he said. “Wear something nice.”
“He is enjoying this,” Noah said, letting out a long breath.
“He thinks he has already won,” Liam added.
“Let him think that,” I said. “He is in for a surprise.”
That evening, we arrived at the banquet together. I wore a simple navy dress that had been hanging in the back of my closet for years. Liam adjusted his cuffs like he had done it a hundred times. Noah’s tie was slightly crooked, on purpose, because that was just who he was.
When Evan spotted us, his smile widened. He walked over with open arms.
“Smile,” he murmured as cameras flashed. “Let us make it look real.”
So I smiled. Not for him, but for the two young men standing on either side of me.
Later, he took the stage to warm applause, waving like a man who expected only praise.
More applause. Heads turned toward our table.
“And their remarkable mother,” he added, gesturing theatrically toward me. “She has stood by me through everything.”
The lie sat in the air between us.
He went on, speaking about commitment, responsibility, and the importance of being there for your children. He sounded convincing. Anyone who did not know better might have believed him.
Then he stretched a hand toward the audience.
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