Chapter 5 - The Call That Shattered Everything

Total silence enveloped the dining room. Even the waiter who had approached with the main courses froze midway, holding a silver tray with trembling arms. Every diner at the adjacent tables turned their heads in sheer disbelief.

My mother looked at Claire with horrified eyes. "Claire... is that real? Did you really leave a six-year-old alone in the dark?"

Claire stood up abruptly, knocking her champagne flute over. The sparkling liquid spread across the white cloth like a stain. "She was fine! It was only supposed to be thirty minutes! The appointment ran over! Why is everyone blaming me when I've done everything for this family?"