“You leave your laptop open when you take your afternoon phone calls on the balcony,” I said. “And you write your passwords on the back of your desk calendar.”

Mother covered her mouth with both hands.

“Richard,” she whimpered. “Tell me she is lying.”

Father did not answer her.

He was staring at me as if seeing me for the very first time.

“You think this makes you safe?” Father asked, his voice shaking slightly. “If you ruin me, you ruin this family.”

“You ruined this family the night you let the house burn and lied to the investigators,” I said.

Chloe looked between us, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“What lies?” Chloe asked, her voice rising. “What is she talking about, Mom?”

Mother looked away, staring at the manicured rose bushes along the fence.

“Chloe, go back to your friends,” Mother said, her voice trembling. “This is not the time.”

“It is my birthday too,” Chloe said, her voice cracking. “I want to know.”

I looked at my sister, seeing the pristine, white linen dress she wore.

It was identical to mine, but on her, it looked perfect.