I didn’t let my gaze waver when his eyes met mine, a smug glint still lingering in them. The room seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with tension and disbelief. My daughter had managed to stagger back to her feet, defiance and confusion mingling in her eyes, but I could see the unspoken question all over her face: Why didn’t you do something?
Little did she know, I had done something, and the consequences of that action were already in motion. I knew time was on my side, and although I was burning with anger, I kept my composure. The rest of the dinner dragged on, filled with awkward silences punctuated by the occasional forced laughter. My son-in-law, emboldened by what he perceived as my inaction, carried on as if nothing had happened. His family followed suit, resuming their conversation about vacations and expensive wines, completely ignoring the storm that had just swept through our lives.
But I was counting down the minutes, and when the knock finally came at the door, I was ready. Everyone at the table stilled, their eyes darting towards the entrance, surprise evident on their faces. My son-in-law’s confidence wavered for a moment, but he quickly masked it, standing up with an air of authority to answer the door.
