😳 STEPMOM CHANGED THE LOCKS—AND HIS OWN DAUGHTER FOUND OUT WHEN HER KEY STOPPED WORKING

Monica came to dinner in the fourth month.

I expected tension.

There was some.

But she knocked before entering.

That alone felt different.

She brought flowers.

Not for the table.

For Mom’s photo.

“I don’t know if this is okay,” she said.

I looked at Dad.

He let me answer.

I took the flowers.

“It’s okay.”

Monica’s eyes filled.

“I’m sorry, Ava. Not for your feelings. For my actions. I changed the locks because I wanted to decide who belonged. That was cruel.”

My throat tightened.

“Yes, it was.”

“I told Leo things that were unfair and selfish.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t undo it.”

“No.”

She nodded.

“I’m not asking you to forgive me tonight. I’m asking if I can start acting like someone who understands the damage.”

My mother grabbed the front of my black hoodie so hard that I stumbled a...

My dad swore that woman would never come back—then her face appeared on...

The wooden jewelry box hit the marble floor so hard that I heard it brea...

That was the first apology that did not ask me to carry it.

So I said, “You can start.”

Chapter 7