Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of Emily, so blissfully unaware. “We have to tell her,” I said, though the very idea of shattering her happiness felt like a betrayal.

“We will,” Dad agreed softly. “But we need to be careful. If David suspects anything, it could make things worse. We need a plan.”

I nodded, though my mind was still reeling. My sister’s perfect day had suddenly become a nightmare, the golden glow of the wedding now tainted with shadows. I knew that whatever happened next, our family would never be the same.

As we sat in the car, the weight of the truth settled heavily between us. It was a burden we would have to bear together, for Emily’s sake, and for the safety of our family. Though the path ahead was uncertain, one thing was clear—we had to act, and soon.