“I was not starving her.”
“What would you call it?”
“Portion control.”
Andre slammed his palm against the table.
The sound shook plates.
Vanessa jumped.
“Do not.”
His voice cracked.
“Do not stand in front of me and call hunger portion control.”
She began crying.
Andre did not soften.
Not yet.
He pointed toward the stairs.
“That girl has been afraid to tell me she is hungry in her own home.”
“You were never here.”
The words landed hard.
Andre stopped.
Vanessa saw it.
She used the opening.
“You travel constantly.”
“I manage everything.”
“School.”
“Doctors.”
“Meals.”
“Homework.”
“You leave.”
“I stay.”
“And now you walk in one evening and suddenly you’re the perfect father?”
Andre felt the accusation hit because part of it was true.
He had been absent too often.
He knew.
But guilt did not change what Vanessa had done.
“You’re right about one thing.”
Vanessa blinked.
“I should have been here more.”
Her face softened slightly.
Andre continued.
“That is my failure.”
“It is not permission for yours.”
The softness disappeared.
Andre picked up Ava’s phone.
“I’m taking Nia to a doctor.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“She doesn’t need a doctor.”
“You already built a fake medical story about her.”
“I’m getting a real one.”
Panic crossed Vanessa’s face.
“Andre.”
He looked at her.
“If you delete one file, touch one device, call the school, move one document, or speak to Nia alone before I understand exactly what happened, I will treat it as interference.”
Her mouth opened.
He continued.
“You are going upstairs.”
“What?”
“Pack a bag.”
“You’re throwing me out?”
“For tonight.”
“This is my house.”
“It is our house.”
“I am not leaving my children.”
“Then stay in the guest room and do not approach them.”
“You cannot order me around.”
“No.”
Andre looked at the phone.
“But I can call the police and tell them my wife forged my signature on a school medical restriction while I have photographic evidence suggesting deliberate deprivation of food.”
Vanessa stared.
Andre’s voice lowered.
“Choose.”
For the first time since Andre had known her, Vanessa seemed to have no answer.
She walked upstairs.
Andre waited.
Then he followed.
All three children were inside Nia’s bedroom.
Caleb sat on the floor.
Ava beside him.
Nia on the bed.
When Andre entered, Nia immediately stood.
He closed the door behind him.
“I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Nia’s face filled with terror.
“No.”
Andre stepped forward.
“Not because you did anything wrong.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don’t want them to think I’m crazy.”
Andre’s heart broke.
“Who told you they would?”
Nia said nothing.
He already knew.
Andre sat on the floor so he was lower than she was.
“Listen to me.”
Nia stared.
“Being hungry does not make you crazy.”
“Being scared does not make you crazy.”
“Crying does not make you crazy.”
“And needing help does not make you incapable of anything.”