“So you gave the guilt to me instead,” I said.

Father did not look at me.

“We gave you the best medical care money could buy, Maya,” he said.

“You hid me,” I said. “You kept me in long sleeves. You told me to stay in my room when your business partners came over.”

“That was for your own comfort,” Father said.

“It was for your reputation,” I said.

I stepped closer to the edge of the patio, where the microphone on the small table sat near the speakers.

I had set it up earlier for the birthday toasts.

Now, it felt like the heaviest object in the yard.

“Evelyn,” Father said, turning back to the woman in the suit. “Call the office. Tell them we are handling a domestic dispute.”

“The link is already on the local news feed, Richard,” Evelyn said.

She did not look angry; she looked efficient.

“The board is calling an emergency session in twenty minutes,” she added. “They want your resignation before the stock market opens tomorrow.”

Father’s face turned a strange, gray color.