Ava sat on the edge of the bed, her arms crossed, her heart still racing from the fight downstairs.
Why does he hate me so much?
She hadn’t done anything to him. She didn’t even want to be here. It was her mom who got married, not her. She was just… part of the package.
She sighed and leaned forward, elbows on her knees. Her room was too quiet, too big, too clean. Nothing felt like hers.
Then the door creaked open.
She turned fast.
“Oh,” she said, standing up quickly. “Mr. Grant.”
He smiled gently and stepped inside. “I just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine,” Ava said, even though she wasn’t.
He looked around her room like he wasn’t sure what to say next. “I know Leo can be difficult.”
Ava gave a short laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
“He’s not always like this,” Grant said. “He’s… upset. He thinks I moved on too fast. He doesn’t understand that people can find happiness again, even after pain.”
Ava nodded slowly.
“He’ll come around,” Grant said. “Just give him time. And if he eve
