Dad said, “If you leave in August after we’ve told you this is the wrong time, you’ll do it without our financial support.”
Mom whispered his name.
He did not take it back.
I looked at her.
“Do you agree?”
Her answer took too long.
“I think your father is scared about what happens to the company when Victor steps back.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I think family decisions affect more than one person.”
Then I understood her too.
She disliked the threat.
She probably disliked the ring.
But she was still measuring my future against what the company needed.
I stood.
Dad said, “Sit down.”
“I’m done eating.”
“Avery.”
I picked up my acceptance folder.
Elliot stood too.
Victor said, “Let her go.”
Dad looked furious.
Not because I was leaving.
Because the evening was no longer under his control.
I walked outside with my hands shaking.
Before I could start my car, my phone buzzed.
Elliot.
***I’m sorry. I swear I had no idea.***
Then another message.
***Can we talk before our parents turn this into something neither of us agreed to?***
I called him.
He answered immediately.
“Please tell me you knew nothing about tonight either.”
“I knew Dad wanted me to spend more time with you. I did not know there was a ring.”
“Same.”
That mattered.
