And there it was. The real truth she’d been holding back.
“She’s not your blood,” Marisa continued, stepping closer. “You’ve poured your entire life into her. The money, the house, the college fund. For what? So she can leave at 18 and forget you exist?”
And there it was.
The real truth she’d been holding back.
Everything inside me went very still and very quiet.
“Get out,” I said.
Marisa laughed. “You’re choosing her over me. Again.”
“Get out now.”
She took one step back, then reached into her purse. I thought she was going for her keys.
Instead, she pulled out my ring box. The one I’d hidden in my nightstand.
Everything inside me went very still and very quiet.
Her smile returned, smug and cruel. “I knew it. I knew you were going to propose.”
“Fine,” she added. “Keep your charity case. But I’m not leaving empty-handed.”
She turned toward the door like she owned the place. I followed her, grabbed the ring box from her hand, and opened the front door so hard it slammed against the wall.
Marisa paused on the porch and looked back. “You know what? Don’t come crying to me when she breaks your heart.”
Then she left. My hands were still shaking when I locked the door.
“Keep your charity case.
But I’m not leaving empty-handed.”
I turned around, and Avery was standing at the bottom of the stairs, her face pale. She’d heard everything.
“Dad,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to…”
“I know, sweetheart,” I said, crossing the room in two strides. “I know you didn’t do anything.”
She started crying then, quietly, like she was embarrassed to let me see it.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I thought you’d believe her.”
“I know you didn’t do anything.”
I pulled her into my chest and held her like she was still three years old and the world was still trying to take her away.
