“Because the videos and photos are online,” Lila said. “And we didn’t want you to see them or hear about them at school without knowing the truth first. We wanted you to hear it from us. Anything you see, anything people say about me looking upset or unstable—it’s edited. Manipulated. They gave me the wrong cabinets on purpose to make me react. Then they made that reaction look as bad as possible—distorting both the video and sound.”
Margot’s eyes filled with tears. “Does this mean we have to leave? That I have to go somewhere else?”
“What? No.” I reached for her hand. “Sweetheart, no. This doesn’t change anything about our family.”
“But if people think bad things about Lila?—”
“They won’t,” Lila said. “Not once we tell the truth. And even if some people believe the lies, it doesn’t matter. Because we know what’s real. And that’s what counts.”
“We’re solid,” I added. “All four of us. This is just noise—bad people trying to hurt us. But they can’t break us apart.”
Mia looked between us. “So what do we do?”
“We tell the truth,” Lila said. “And we don’t let them win.”
“Can I help?” Mia asked. “Like, can I post something? Tell people it’s all lies?”
“Not yet,” I said. “But maybe soon. Right now, we just need you both to know the truth—and to be prepared for what you might hear.”
“What if kids at school say stuff?” Margot asked.
“Then you tell them the truth,” Lila said. “That the videos were edited to make me look bad. That there’s no love triangle. That we’re a real family, and we’re happy and strong.”
“And if they don’t believe me?”
“Then they don’t,” I said. “Because we know the truth. And that’s what matters. You don’t have to defend us or convince anyone. Just know that we’re okay.”
Mia picked up her fork. “This really sucks.”
“It does,” Lila agreed. “But we’re going to get through it. Together. As a family.”
“Are you scared, Mom?” Mia asked softly.
“I’m angry,” Lila said. “And I’m worried about you two. But I’m not scared. Because I have you—all of you. And that makes me stronger than anything they can throw at us.”
Margot looked at me. “You’re not leaving, right? Even though this is hard?”
“I’m not leaving,” I promised. “Not ever. This is my family. And I don’t run.”
“Okay,” Margot said quietly. “As long as we’re together.”
“Always,” Lila said, her voice fierce. “We’re always together.”
We finished dinner with the girls asking questions—how the lawyers would help, what would happen to Kenzie and Beau, whether the show would still happen.
And through it all, Lila was steady. Strong. The protective mother and partner I’d fallen in love with.
Not a victim. A fighter.
“We need to talk about your house,” Lila said quietly.
I looked at her. “What about it?”
“It’s half-demolished. If the show gets shut down, or if I walk away … what happens to it?”
“I’ll hire contractors. Get it finished the normal way.”
“That could take months. And cost a fortune. You and Margot are living here because your place is unlivable.”
