⸻
Jane stopped.
Mid-step. Her hand was already on the doorknob, her fingers wrapped around the cool metal-but something made her pause. The weight of their words hung heavy in the air, and she couldn't leave without one final word.
Her grip on her mother's hand tightened-firm, reassuring-then she turned back.
Slowly. Her movements deliberate, each step measured as she faced the table once more. The fire in her eyes hadn't faded, but now it was focused, controlled.
"And none of you will eat either," she said, her voice cutting through the room like a blade, sharp and clean. "This food was made with love-love you don't deserve."
She gestured to the spread on the table-her mother's signature chicken curry, homemade roti, fresh chutneys, all carefully prepared over hours.
The table fell silent. Even Lucia, who'd been so loud moments before, shrank back in her chair.
"Aunt," she added, her eyes locking onto Lucia with an intensity that made the older woman squirm.
Lucia stiffened under that gaze, her earlier boldness evaporating like mist in the sun. "You... you're free to say anything you like," she stammered, forcing a nervous laugh as she looked away. "But we are not free to listen."
Jane tilted her head slightly, her expression calm-but dangerous, like a pilot assessing a runway with hidden hazards.
"Right?" she asked, her tone carrying an edge that left no room for argument.
Lucia nodded quickly, her eyes darting toward the door. "Yes... yes. Of course."
Jane held her gaze for a second longer-making sure the message was clear-then turned away. Her hand found the doorknob again, turning it smoothly.
"Mom," she said gently this time, her voice softening as she looked at her mother's tear-streaked face, "let's go."
Her mother stood immediately, her back straight despite her trembling hands. She'd taken enough humiliation for one night.
Jayden rose as well, his expression dark and unreadable as he gathered their coats. He'd said nothing through the entire confrontation, but his jaw was tight with restrained anger-protective fury for the woman he'd come to care for, and her mother who'd been so cruelly treated.
Without another word-
The three of them walked out, the door clicking shut behind them with a final, decisive sound.
⸻
The door shut.
And just like that-
The room filled with noise again, as if a cork had been popped from a bottle of anger and resentment.
"Such an ungrateful, heartless child," Lucia snapped, pushing her chair back as she stood up, her face flushed with anger. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the closed door.
"Throwing a tantrum like that in front of everyone," she added bitterly. "Who does she think she is?"
Rosa clicked her tongue, shaking her head in disapproval as she picked up her glass of water. "Ill-mannered. Always losing her temper. No wonder she had to marry some nobody-who else would put up with her?"
"Aunt..." Jenny said softly, smiling as she leaned closer to Lucia, placing a comforting hand on her arm. She'd been quiet since Jane left, but now her sweet demeanor returned in full force.
"Jane has just been in the city too long," she continued sweetly, her voice dripping with faux sympathy. "She's forgotten her roots-forgotten what family means."
She placed a hand on her chest, almost theatrically, her eyes wide with sincerity.
"Not like me. I would never treat you that way. Family always comes first."
Rosa beamed, reaching across the table to pat her daughter's hand. "Oh, my wonderful daughter," she said proudly. "So kind, so thoughtful. We're so lucky to have you."
Lucia scoffed, turning away from the door as she sat back down. "Fatherless child indeed," she muttered under her breath. "No manners whatsoever. No wonder her father ran away."
Her gaze softened as she turned to Jenny, her expression warm with approval.
"Our Jenny is the successful one," she said, nodding firmly. "Always has been. Always will be."
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Jenny... weren't you taking the captain exam last month?" she asked. "Did you pass? When do you get your bars?"
Rosa immediately turned, her expression tightening with anticipation. She'd been waiting to ask this question for weeks, but Jenny had always been evasive.
Jenny froze.
Just for a second. Her hand paused mid-air as she reached for her wine glass, her smile faltering just enough to be noticeable if you were looking for it.
Her fingers adjusted the strap on her shoulder bag-black leather, a gift from Reuben-buying precious seconds as she scrambled for an answer.
Then-
"I... of course I passed," she said quickly, forcing a bright smile as she picked up her glass and took a slow sip. "Got my results last week. They're assigning me to the LA route next month."
Rosa exhaled in relief, her shoulders slumping as she smiled proudly. "I knew it! My daughter-the youngest captain at Aurelia!"
Jenny forced a smile and added, her voice carrying just enough to be heard across the table, "Jane failed hers, obviously. She's always been too impulsive for such responsibility."
"Oh," Lucia nodded, satisfied as she picked up her fork again. "Figures. She never had the discipline for it."
The grandmother tapped Jenny's arm warmly with her wrinkled fingers, her eyes crinkling with pride. "I always knew you'd be the accomplished one," she said, her voice soft with affection. "So much better than your cousin Jane. More polished, more respectful."
Jenny's smile stiffened, her jaw tightening slightly. She'd lied about so many things-her exam results, her relationship with Reuben, her role at the airline-but hearing it praised like this made her stomach twist with guilt.
"Then," the grandmother continued eagerly, her eyes lighting up with excitement, "you can help Lucia's son get that flight attendant position, right? Pull those strings you mentioned earlier?"
Jenny hesitated.
Just a fraction. Her hand tightened around her wine glass, her knuckles white against the crystal.
But Rosa didn't notice. She leaned forward, her face glowing with pride.
"Of course!" she said proudly, pulling Jenny closer to her side. "Our Jenny is now a captain at a major airline-she knows everyone who matters. Arranging a little thing like a flight attendant job is nothing."
Jenny subtly shook her head at her mother-small, urgent movements that she hoped only Rosa would see. Stop. You don't know what you're saying.
But Rosa didn't notice. She was too busy basking in the attention, too proud of the daughter she'd always wanted.
"Arranging a few positions is nothing," she continued confidently, waving her hand dismissively. "She could probably get all of us jobs if she wanted to."
Jenny's throat tightened, her mouth going dry. She'd never even taken the captain exam-she'd been too afraid to face the failure she knew was coming. And Reuben had been grounded, so his connections were worthless now.
"From now on," Rosa added excitedly, her eyes bright with possibility, "you will all fly for free whenever you want. Jenny can get us complimentary tickets-captains have that kind of power, don't they?"
"Wonderful!" Lucia clapped her hands in delight, her face lighting up like a child on Christmas morning. "We've never even been on a plane! I've always wanted to see the ocean from above."
"Jenny," she added eagerly, leaning forward across the table, "can you take us to your airline tomorrow? For a tour? Let us see where you work-see the planes up close?"
Jenny's eyes widened. she certainly couldn't arrange a tour for half the family.
She immediately grabbed her mother's arm under the table, squeezing tightly enough to leave marks.
"Mom," she whispered through clenched teeth, her smile never leaving her face but her eyes dark with urgency, "stop making promises. I can't do that."
Rosa brushed her hand away, patting it reassuringly as she turned back to Lucia.
"Of course we can," she said brightly. "Let's say tomorrow afternoon-two o'clock. Jenny will pick us up and take us right onto the tarmac if we want."
Jenny's face drained of color. The tarmac was restricted access-only authorized personnel were allowed there, and even then, only with proper identification and training.
"That would be amazing!" Lucia and the grandmother exclaimed together, clapping happily as they began planning what they'd wear and what they'd ask to see.
Jenny leaned closer again, her voice urgent now, barely more than a whisper.
"Mom, that's impossible. Airport regulations forbid non-staff in operational areas. We could all get arrested-you could get me fired."
Rosa waved her off, her voice low but dismissive.
"Nonsense," she whispered back. "We're decent people. We won't touch anything. We'll just look around and be on our way."
She smiled wider, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"What could possibly happen? It's just a tour."
Jenny's lips parted-
Then closed. There was no point in arguing. Her mother never listened when she was in one of these moods, and saying no now would mean admitting she'd been lying about everything.
Her heart pounded against her ribs, fast and hard. She picked up her wine glass and drained it in one swallow, the alcohol burning a path down her throat.
Her forced smile returned.
But this time-
It didn't reach her eyes.
Because for the first time-
Her lies were no longer small, no longer easy to hide behind charm and excuses.
And tomorrow-
They would be tested.
