“Of course she did.”

“Even though I wasn’t like you?”

“Paige, Grandma never wanted us to compete.”

She began crying.

I didn’t immediately hug her.

I wasn’t ready.

But I stayed beside her.

Sometimes rebuilding trust begins with simply not walking away.

At the first hearing, my parents arrived dressed as though they were attending church.

Mom wore pearls and a navy suit.

Dad looked confident in his usual charcoal jacket.

When they saw me, Mom approached with a practiced smile.

“Marissa, this has gone far enough.”

For most of my life, that sentence had ended every argument.

This time, I answered:

“No, it hasn’t.”

Dad offered to settle matters privately.

Elise stepped forward.

“All communication will go through counsel.”

His expression darkened.

Then Paige entered.

Alone.

Without her children.

Without excuses.

She walked directly toward me and stood at my side.

Mom extended her hand.