I stared at the glowing screen.

I did not reply.

Two days later, the story reached the local papers in our hometown.

They ran a front-page article about the Mitchell family dynamic.

Our quiet, status-conscious neighborhood was suddenly under a magnifying glass.

Neighbors were being interviewed about Helen’s social climbing.

Former business associates of my father were giving anonymous quotes about his passivity.

The local country club, where my mother spent her weekends, was mentioned as the hub of her social network.

One quote in the local paper came from a former business partner of hers.

“Helen Mitchell has always cared more about appearances than reality,” the anonymous source said.

“It doesn’t surprise me that her daughter has exposed the cracks in the facade.”

At the same time, Solar Reach was thriving.

We signed two major municipal contracts that had been stalled for months.

New hires were lining up to work for us, inspired by the speech.

Our reception desk was flooded with resumes from engineers and designers who wanted to work for a company with “soul.”

My professional dream was coming true, but my personal life was turning into a battlefield.