At the sink, Paisley politely but distantly refused Nate’s card. She hurried out, worried about Serena. Nate’s phone rang, interrupting whatever he was about to say.

The pavilion was far from the restroom. Serena, engrossed in play, had refused to come. Paisley had left her with the other parents, a nagging worry twisting in her gut. Before she reached halfway, a crash shattered the afternoon’s peace.

Her heart plummeting, she sprinted back. Parents were clustered around the pavilion, murmuring anxiously. Vivian’s Cloud Crest Reserve lay shattered, half its precious contents spilled amongst the glass. Serena stood nearby, silently weeping.

"Rena!" Paisley pushed through the crowd, scooping up her daughter. "What happened?"

Serena only shook her head, her tears a silent testament to distress. This wasn't her usual outburst; this was deeper. A grievance swam in her eyes, something Paisley couldn't fathom.

"Your daughter made a mess!" Isabella sneered, dripping with malice. "That expensive wine—you can't afford to replace it!"

Paisley met her gaze. "Mrs. Thompson, explain exactly what my daughter did."

"Obvious! Your daughter broke it! Vivian was right there!" Isabella pointed at the wreckage. "How will you pay?"

The other parents echoed the sentiment; the wine, a rare treat, was gone. Paisley refused to jump to conclusions. She gently asked Serena, "Rena, did you break it?"

"Ms. Sutton, what are you implying?!" Vivian snapped, her voice sharp. "Accusing a child?" Her loss stung, but this was her chance to make Paisley pay – not just for the wine, but for past grievances.

"The situation needs clarifying," Paisley said calmly, meeting Vivian's angry stare. "If my daughter is responsible, I will take full responsibility."

Vivian scoffed. "Responsible? Can you even afford it?"

"It's just a bottle of wine," Paisley replied, confused.

"Just a bottle?!" Isabella mocked. "Do you know how expensive this is?"

Kevin, tugging at his wife, pleaded, "Stop, it's none of your business. Even if Serena knocked it over, it wasn't intentional."

Isabella's face flushed. "So, no responsibility if it wasn't intentional? Or are you defending her because…" She leveled a pointed look at Paisley.

Kevin stammered, embarrassed. "We didn't see what happened."

Isabella's implication hung heavy. Whispers rippled through the group. "Is she a mistress?" one woman asked. Another agreed, "Obviously; otherwise, how could she be so beautiful, unmarried, with a child?" Someone defended Paisley, but the seed of doubt was planted.

Vivian, icy, cut through the gossip. "Ms. Sutton, what do you propose we do?"

Ignoring Vivian, Paisley knelt before Serena. "Rena, tell Mommy, did you break it?"

Still crying, Serena whispered, "Mom… I think I did." She wasn’t sure; she’d been crying, blurry-eyed, and the bottle had fallen. But everyone said it was her fault.

Paisley accepted Serena’s confession calmly. "My daughter broke it. I'll compensate. Money, or a replacement bottle?"

Vivian's laugh was brittle. "Money."