So the wine was an accident.
She still ruined everything.”
Mason stared at her like he was seeing a stranger.
“She ruined everything?”
Vanessa gestured toward his shirt, toward the guests, toward the broken glass.
“Look at this party.
Look at everyone staring.
She always does this.
She walks in and somehow everything becomes about Emily.”
I stopped the video.
For years, Vanessa had accused me of wanting attention whenever I asked to be treated normally.
If Dad forgot my birthday and I looked disappointed, I was dramatic.
If Vanessa insulted me and I answered, I was jealous.
If I stayed quiet, I was sulking.
There was no correct position for me except beneath her.
I looked at the missed calls again.
Twenty-one were from Dad.
Seventeen were from Vanessa.
Nine were from Mason.
The rest were numbers I didn’t know.
Another call came in while I was staring at the screen.
Dad.
I declined it.
A voicemail notification appeared almost immediately.
I listened.
“Emily, call me.
Now.
This has gotten completely out of hand.
You need to come back so we can settle this before people make it worse.”
Not: Are you okay?
Not: I’m sorry she hit you.
Not even: I was wrong.
Come back so we can settle this.
I deleted the voicemail and returned to the video.
Mason was still facing Vanessa.
“How long have you been treating her like that?” he asked.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Oh, please.
You barely know her.”
“I know what I watched today.”
“She’s my sister.
You don’t understand our relationship.”
“I understand that she spent your party carrying trays while you insulted her.”
Vanessa’s expression flickered.
Mason continued.
“I asked you twice why Emily was working instead of sitting with the family.
You told me she volunteered.”
That made me sit upright.
I had never volunteered.
Vanessa had started ordering me around ten minutes after I arrived.
On screen, Dad stepped between them.
“That’s enough.”
Mason didn’t even look at him.
“No.
I think I’ve ignored enough.”
Vanessa’s confidence finally cracked.
