"Leander!" Selena snapped, her grip on Sierra tightening protectively. "Watch your mouth. Your sister already said it's fake!"
"It's not fake, Mom!" Leander's voice cracked like a whip, startling even David. "You heard it yourself—her voice, her face, every damn word! Stop pretending!"
"Leander, enough," David said sharply, though his own voice trembled with controlled anger. "This isn't about yelling. This is about the truth."
Shane finally spoke, his tone cool but heavy. "Dad's right. We don't need to argue. We've seen and heard enough."
Selena's lips parted, her eyes darting helplessly between her husband, her sons, and the daughter clinging to her. "No… no, you're all wrong. It's a setup. That girl is framing her!"
"Framing?" David's voice hardened as he turned on her. "With her own words, Selena? With her own voice threatening Erisia and laughing about it? How far are you willing to go to protect her?"
Selena faltered, her mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.
