The one you said was impossible to replace?”

His eyes flickered with a mix of confusion and concern. “What about it?”

“Imagine if someone smashed it to teach you a lesson,” I said softly. “How would that make you feel?”

He didn’t respond, but the flicker in his eyes spoke louder than words. It was a glimmer of understanding, a recognition of the hurt they had inflicted on Lily. I turned to Rachel next.

“And Rachel, remember that vintage jewelry collection from your grandmother? The one you keep in the glass case? How would you feel if someone tossed it out like trash, to teach you ‘respect’?”

Her confidence wavered, her smirk now fully gone. Beneath her feigned indifference, I saw a flicker of fear—fear of losing what she held dear, of facing the same helplessness she had forced on Lily.

I met their gazes, one after the