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He went on, speaking about commitment, responsibility, and the importance of being there for your children. He sounded convincing. Anyone who did not know better might have believed him.
Then he stretched a hand toward the audience.
Noah looked at me. I gave him a tiny nod.
They stood and walked to the stage together, shoulders squared. Evan placed a hand on Liam’s shoulder, turning them all toward the cameras with a proud grin.
Liam stepped up to the microphone.
“I want to thank the person who raised us,” he said.
Evan leaned in, his smile widening for the crowd.
“And that person is not this man,” Liam continued, his voice steady. “Not at all.”
The room fell silent. Then came a ripple of shocked whispers.
“He left our mom when she was 17,” Liam said. “She was pregnant with twins, and he walked away. He never called. He never wrote. He only showed up last week, when he realized we could help his career. He told us that if our mother did not go along with this performance, he would try to hurt our chances at college.”
“That is enough,” he snapped. “You do not understand what you are saying.”
But Noah stepped beside his brother, his voice calm and clear.
“Our mom is the reason we are here,” he said. “She worked long hours. She kept us fed, warm, and loved. She showed up every day, even when it was hard. She deserves the recognition. Not him.”
You could feel the mood in the room shift.
A murmur rose into shouts. Cameras flashed. People turned in their seats, looking at Evan with new eyes.
We did not stay for dessert.
