"Did you look at her criminal record before you hired her, Cameron?" Jason taunts. "You trusted a juvenile delinquent to watch your self-declared daughter?"
Cameron stares at me as if to say:What the fuck is he talking about?
"Tara? Do you want to speak up for yourself?" Jason says.
My throat closes. I can't speak.
"As a teenager," Jason announces, "this woman assaulted an officer of the law so badly he had to go to the emergency room. Doctors weren't sure he'd pull through."
The room goes dead silent.
"Don't deny it, Tara. Your record as a juvenile delinquent is going to be in the papers tomorrow. Everyone here can read it and make their own judgment."
"Daddy Cameron!" Posey breaks away from Jason and wraps herself around her father's knees. She reaches her little hand to touch mine.
"Well, good evening, everybody," Jason says with the same cold smile. "That's all I wanted to share."
The room stays frozen in shocked silence as Jason straightens his jacket and walks toward the door. Miss Swain finds her voice first. "Jason, what on earth?—"
But he's already gone, slamming the door, leaving chaos in his wake.
Cameron's arms tighten around me as conversations explode across the room. I can hear fragments—"juvenile delinquent," "paternity test," and "unfit father."
"We're leaving," Cameron says against my ear, his voice rough. "Now."
He scoops Posey into his arms, tearing her from where she had clung to my dress. Edison presses against my legs as we push toward the door.
"Cameron, wait—" Miss Swain calls after us. But we're already outside, the cool night air hitting my flushed face.
The driver jumps out to open the Rolls-Royce door. "Home," Cameron tells him tersely.
We sit in absolute silence during the drive. Posey leans exhausted against Cameron's chest. Edison stretches out across the floor. Even the dog seems to understand something horrific just happened.
I stare out the window, Jason's words echoing in my head.
The mansion feels different when we return—too quiet, too empty.
Cameron carries Posey upstairs while I follow with Edison, all of us moving like we're underwater.
"It's okay," Cameron murmurs as he tucks Posey into bed. "That man was just confused. Just a crazy person saying crazy things."
She doesn't understand what happened, but I’m sure she can feel the tension radiating from both of us.
Posey’s little face is tear-streaked as Cameron kisses her forehead. We both wait until her breathing evens out and she falls into a restless sleep.
Edison curls up beside her bed like a furry guardian.
Once we're downstairs, Cameron pours us both a scotch without asking if I want one. His hands shake slightly as we settle onto the sofa.
"Do you want to explain what just happened?"
His voice is carefully controlled.
“Jason couldn't have made that stuff up, Tara. What's this about assaulting a cop?"
I take a deep breath. My chest feels tight. Like I can't get enough air.
"I haven't told you much about my home life," I say, my voice barely audible.
