Reagan’s cheeks reddened.
“That was a joke.”
“You laughed,” I said.
“I didn’t.”
“You’re seriously going to destroy everyone over one stupid breakfast?”
I shook my head.
“No.
Breakfast told me what I needed to know.
What happens next is about everything you did after you thought I had no power.”
Colton’s father stepped between us.
“Enough.
Undo the freeze.
We can discuss this privately.”
“We were private twenty minutes ago,” I said.
His gaze hardened.
“You are two days into this marriage.
Don’t make decisions you’ll regret because you’re emotional.”
There it was again.
Not an apology.
Not concern.
A warning disguised as advice.
Lilah closed one section of the folder and opened another.
“My client is not making an impulsive financial decision.
The suspension affects only discretionary transfers pending review.
Payroll, vendor obligations, and ordinary restaurant operations remain funded.
Employees are not being punished for what happened in this kitchen.”
That mattered to me.
I had no intention of turning hundreds of uninvolved workers into collateral damage because Colton wanted to teach me my place.
His father looked almost offended by the distinction.
“And my authority?”
“Under review,” Lilah said.
“You can’t do that.”
“The governing documents say otherwise.”
He grabbed the folder.
Lilah placed her hand on it before he could pull it away.
“I recommend you don’t interfere with my client’s documents.”
His fingers loosened.
For the first time, he looked old.
Cynthia came around the table and lowered her voice.
“Sweetheart, this has gone far enough.”
The sudden softness almost made me laugh.
Twenty minutes earlier, she had watched her son slap me and told me to mop the floor.
Now I was sweetheart.
“Has it?”
“Colton shouldn’t have touched you.
Of course not.
But families forgive each other.”
“Did you tell him that before or after he said the next punishment would be worse?”
Her face changed.
Colton turned toward her.
“Mom, stop talking to her like she’s in charge.”
The bank representative glanced at him.
That tiny movement was almost crueler than a reply.
Colton saw it too.
He pointed at my phone.
“Restore everything.
