ANNA'S POV

I climbed up the stage slowly, the bright lights hitting me the moment I stepped forward, but I stayed just behind my father at first, waiting for my cue. From where I stood, I could see the crowd clearly — hundreds of faces turned toward the stage, watching my father with full attention. The murmuring had died down the moment he touched the mic.

“Now, for the main announcement of the evening,” my dad began, his voice steady but warm, the way it always was whenever he was about to say something important. “I know you all think that over the years it’s only two children I have....