Caroline stopped crying, her eyes widening.

She looked at me, her expression turning into a mix of jealousy and desperate hope.

“Yes,” Caroline said, her voice high and demanding.

“You owe us that much, Evelyn,” Caroline added. “After keeping this a secret.”

“That is not how the chain of command works, Father,” I said.

My father’s smile faltered, his eyebrows drawing together.

“We are talking about your sister’s future husband, Evelyn,” Father said.

“Rules can be bent for family,” Father added, his voice hardening again.

“Not in my department,” I said.

Nathan looked down at the tablecloth, his face burning red with embarrassment.

“Sir, please,” Nathan said to my father. “You cannot ask her that.”

“Be quiet, Nathan,” Caroline snapped, her jealousy flaring up again.

“She has been lying to us for years,” Caroline said, pointing a finger at me.

“She owes us this promotion,” Caroline insisted, her voice shrill.

My mother looked between us, her hands fluttering near her collar.

“Evelyn, surely a small word from you would be enough,” Mother whispered.

I looked at the people who had spent my entire adult life ignoring my career.