Cassie returns home from a family getaway to find a note from her mother urging her to watch a video. When she presses play, her world shifts dramatically. On screen, her father appears, revealing he is alive and has faked his death due to a dark secret.

Tears stream down Cassie’s face as he explains, “Your mother knows everything. Please ask her for the truth.” Confused and hurt, Cassie rushes to confront her mother.

Over tea and shortbread, her mother reveals the shocking truth: her father was never legally married to her mother. He had another family, and when Cassie expressed her thoughts on divorce, her father felt relieved, believing there was no risk of divorce. To protect Cassie, her mother had concocted the story of his death.

Cassie is left reeling, grappling with the realization that the ashes scattered at the beach were not her father’s. Her mother had only allowed Cassie to believe in a lie to shield her from the painful truth.

Determined to seek closure, Cassie travels to the state where her father lives with his other family. She spends time with him as he battles illness, learning about his regrets and love for her. After a brief visit from her husband and son, her father passes away.

Now, Cassie faces a new dilemma: can she forgive her father for living a lie and her mother for hiding the truth? As she reflects, she realizes that both parents left scars, but her heart yearns for understanding.