Chapter 3

The guard finally waved them through, his eyes lingering on their old, sputtering car.

As they pulled up to Rich' s sprawling house, the sounds of a barbecue drifted towards them – laughter, music, the clinking of glasses.

Figures moved on the manicured lawn, a stark contrast to the quiet desperation in Sarah' s car.

People turned to stare as Sarah and Lily got out.

Whispers followed them like shadows. "Isn't that David's widow?" "What are they doing here?"

Their clothes, clean but worn, marked them as outsiders in this affluent bubble.

Sarah' s stomach churned.

How could she explain this to Lily? The depth of Rich' s deceit, the casual cruelty of her own family?

For now, she just held Lily' s hand tightly.

They found Rich on the patio, holding court, a drink in his hand.

Karen was beside him, dripping in jewelry, a smug smile on her face.

Chad was nearby, preening as guests congratulated him.

"Sarah! Lily! What a surprise," Rich said, his voice oozing false charm.

"We were just celebrating Chad' s wonderful news!"

Karen' s smile tightened. "Yes, so thrilled for him. He worked so hard."

Eleanor Miller, Rich' s mother and Sarah' s former mother-in-law, materialized at Rich' s side.

She' d always favored Rich, always found ways to belittle Sarah, especially after David died.

"Sarah, dear, you look a bit... flustered," Eleanor said, her eyes cold.

Before Sarah could speak, Lily, her voice trembling but clear, blurted out, "Uncle Rich, how did Chad get the Caltech scholarship? They told me I was a top candidate!"

The music seemed to falter. All eyes turned to them.

Rich' s smile vanished. "Now, Lily, let' s not make a scene. These things are complex. Chad was simply the more qualified applicant."

"More qualified?" Sarah stepped forward, her voice low and dangerous.

"Lily' s grades, her test scores, her projects... they' re exceptional. Chad barely passed his classes."

Karen scoffed. "Are you calling my son a liar, Sarah? Or stupid?"

"I'm saying something is very wrong here," Sarah said, meeting Rich' s gaze. "You offered to handle the paperwork."

Rich' s face darkened. "And I did. The foundation made its decision. Maybe Lily just isn't Caltech material. And frankly, Sarah, your desperation is unbecoming. Trying to ride on David' s coattails, even now? Looking for a handout?"

Eleanor chimed in, her voice sharp. "Sarah! How dare you come here and accuse my son! You' re just jealous. Always have been. Making a scene, shaming David' s memory!"

Chad, emboldened, swaggered over and waved his acceptance letter mockingly in Lily' s face. "Guess I' m just smarter, cuz."

The public humiliation was a fresh wound.

Sarah felt Lily tremble beside her.

Sarah held up the case with David' s medals. "This is about honor, Rich. David' s honor. What you' ve done-"

Rich' s face contorted in a flash of rage. He snatched the display case from her hands.

"Honor? David' s dead! His trinkets won' t change anything!"

He threw the case to the ground. The glass shattered, the medals scattering across the stone patio.

David' s Distinguished Service Cross skittered near the grill.

"Lily' s just not good enough!" Rich sneered.