Frank’s face fell, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of the father I had once hoped he could be. But that moment passed, leaving only the hardened man who had stood by as my brother tormented my child.

“I’m sorry,” Frank said, almost a whisper.

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off me with his words. “Thank you for saying that. But it’s time to break the cycle. Lucas deserves better—and so did I.”

Frank left without another word, leaving me with the bittersweet feeling of a bridge burned. But as Lucas ran to show me what he’d built with his new blocks, I knew I was right where I needed to be. In protecting my son, I had finally found the strength I’d sought all my life—and it was rooted in kindness, not cruelty.