Chapter 69 Ultimatum

• Victoria walked into the house after a long day, the air inside heavy with tension. She had just dropped Ethan off at school and had a quick errand to run. But now, she was facing the person who had been her silent observer in this mess—her stepmother, Rita. Victoria was already anticipating the conversation, but nothing could quite prepare her for the venomous tone Rita was about to unleash.
• Rita sat at the kitchen table, tapping her nails against the wood impatiently. She didn’t even look up as Victoria entered, but the coldness in her voice was unmistakable.
• “Victoria, we need to talk.”