Her dismissive tone only fueled my resolve. “That’s unacceptable,” I replied, a sharper edge creeping into my voice. “Emily is seven months pregnant, Samantha. She needs comfort and support, and as a family, we should be offering her that without question.”

Lily shifted uncomfortably, clearly caught in the middle, but I was past worrying about making things awkward. This was about setting things right.

Samantha opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “We need to talk about what it means to be a family, Samantha. This isn’t about ruling a house; it’s about creating a home where everyone feels loved and safe. Emily is my daughter, and she deserves that—especially now.”