On my wedding day, my husband and my adopted stepsister proudly held their newborn twins and announced it to me.

I nearly smiled.

For two years, Derek called me patient. Sweet. Useful.

He confused silence with stupidity.

He confused kindness with weakness.

I accepted the papers calmly.

Lena blinked in confusion. She expected screaming, not cooperation.

A nearby waiter held a silver pen meant for the guest book.

I took it and signed every highlighted page without hesitation.

Derek’s grin flickered slightly.

“That’s it?” he asked.