My heart swelled with a mixture of pride and devastation. I didn’t want Noah to be caught in the crossfire of adult conflicts, yet here he was, standing up for me in the most public and innocent way possible. His bravery left me both proud and speechless.

There was a moment of silence before a few guests began to clap, slowly at first, then building until the room was filled with applause. It was as if Noah’s words had broken a spell, shifting the mood from discomfort to genuine warmth.