The words hurt.
Evelyn had loved Danielle.
Of course she had.
But she also understood that Adrian deserved companionship.
She'd encouraged him to date Vanessa.
Attended their wedding.
And welcomed Zuri into the family.
Her concerns weren't about preserving the first marriage.
They were about a living child.
She told Adrian that.
Then ended the conversation before she said something she'd regret.
The next morning, Evelyn received an unexpected call.
It came from Camille.
Vanessa's younger sister.
They barely knew each other beyond family gatherings.
Camille's voice sounded nervous.
“Mrs. Brooks?”
“Evelyn, please.”
There was a pause.
Then Camille whispered.
“I think we need to talk.”
They met at a small café near Evelyn's apartment.
Camille arrived wearing jeans and a gray sweater.
She looked tired.
For several minutes, she spoke about ordinary things.
The weather.
Her apartment search.
Her work.
Finally, Evelyn gently interrupted.
“Camille, is this about Malik?”
The younger woman's face changed.
She looked toward the table.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
Evelyn waited.
Camille took a breath.
“I think my sister is being cruel to him.”
The words came out quickly.
Almost as though she'd been holding them back for weeks.
Evelyn remained quiet.
Camille continued.
“She tells him he hasn't earned food. She makes him sit there while everybody eats.”
Her eyes filled.
“Sometimes she says he can have dinner if he apologizes, but then she keeps finding something else wrong.”
Evelyn felt cold.
“Have you seen this yourself?”
Camille nodded.
“Yes.”
“How often?”
“I don't know. I've been staying there for about five weeks, and I've seen it several times.”
Evelyn swallowed.
Camille continued.
“I asked her about it. She said Adrian knows and supports the consequences.”
Evelyn's expression hardened.
“Do you believe that?”
Camille looked up.
For a moment, she seemed ashamed.
“I wanted to.”
She wiped her eyes.
“She's my sister.”
Evelyn nodded.
Camille continued.
“She helped me when my relationship ended. Let me stay at the house. Paid me to help with some of her consulting projects.”
Her voice broke.
“I kept telling myself I didn't understand the whole situation.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“And now?”
Camille looked toward her.
“I watched Malik ask for food after basketball practice. He said he hadn't eaten since lunch.”
She swallowed.
“Vanessa told him he could wait until breakfast.”
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she continued.
“Zuri started crying. She asked her mother to stop. Vanessa sent her to her room.”