Lilian's POV
The crushing reality hit me like a physical blow: Rosie's condition was genuine, and my bitter assumptions had been catastrophically wrong.
Daisy seized the moment like a predator sensing wounded prey. She turned toward Augusto, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Augusto, you know despite our differences, I've always held Rosie in the highest regard.
"I warned Lilian about Rosie's condition. I begged her not to upset your grandmother. But she ignored me completely. She destroyed that bracelet deliberately, right in front of Rosie. She wanted to hurt her."
"That's a lie," I choked out, my voice breaking under Augusto's glacial stare. "I had no idea she was ill. I would never have—"
Guilt slammed into me as I watched Rosie's trembling fingers still gripping the bracelet's broken pieces. If I had known about her Alzheimer's, I would have endured any humiliation rather than shatter something so precious to her.
"Mom! What's happening?"
"Mrs. Atlas!"
