Chapter 50

• McKenzie’s anger bubbled over as she slammed the kitchen cabinet. She despised doing all the household chores, but her mom dumped everything on her. They couldn’t afford a housekeeper, and no one else ever lifted a finger. It was all on her, and the endless list of tasks left her exhausted.
• The kitchen island was covered with chopping boards, containers stacked high for meal prep, and a mess of vegetables waiting to be dealt with.
• Piles of chopped carrots, bell peppers, and onions sat at one end, neatly arranged, while she moved her knife rapidly through another batch. The rice cooker hissed with steam as pasta boiled nearby. She was worn out and desperate to get everything done quickly. Her apron was tied in a sloppy knot, her hair messily pushed back with stray strands sticking to her forehead.