I shook it.

His expression changed at once.

His eyes moved to the small service pin on my dress, then to the ring on my right hand, and finally back to my face.

All the color drained from him.

He released my hand, stepped backward, straightened, and saluted.

“Admiral, ma’am.”

The room became completely silent.

Caroline’s smile vanished first.

Dad blinked. “What did you just call her?”

Commander Reed kept his salute raised until I gave him a slight nod.

“Rear Admiral Evelyn Hart,” he said, his voice steady. “She chaired my promotion review last year.”

My father’s glass slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor.

Part 2

No one moved.

Only seconds earlier, the dining room had been filled with laughter. Now it sounded like a courtroom waiting for a sentence.

Caroline stared at Nathan. “You know my sister?”

Nathan’s jaw tightened. “Everyone in my command knows Admiral Hart.”

Dad slowly shook his head, as though refusing to believe it might somehow change the truth. “That’s impossible. Evelyn works in administration.”