I could feel the weight of the decision hanging in the air, as if the world paused to see what would happen next.

I took a deep breath, making a mental list of what mattered most to both of them. It was time they understood the depth of what they had destroyed—not just the machine, but Lily’s spirit and passion.

I turned to Mark first, my voice steady and clear. “Mark, remember last Christmas when you got that limited edition guitar? Continues…