When Family Becomes The Enemy

ike you're bringing the fam

had been standing by the coffee machine, watching the entire scene unfold with a malicious

e asked, her voice dripping with fake symp

st, another voice cut through the

out, a confused and hurt expression on his face. He had come to surprise me for lunch, to talk things through,

thed, my face flu

aw his perfect, simple plan being threatened by the man

madness, he addressed the entire lobby. "Everyone, I'd like to make an announcement! My daughter,

hael looked like he had been punched in the gut. Leo, bless his simple heart, actuall

ted, my voice cracking

y father boomed. "Y

ok a step towards me. "Come on, Sarah," he said, reac

inal straw. All my fear, my shame, and my

creamed, shoving him ba

orative table, sending a vase of flowers crashing to the floor. The so

fumbled for the phone. My father lunged toward me,

hielding me. "That's enough," he said to my father

of this!" my f

o security guards, came rushing into the lobby. "Wh

father, "is my adoptive father, and he is trying to force me into a marriage with this man," I

ing he had crossed a line and was about to face real-world consequenc

the guards said calmly. "You're causing

shout and struggle as they escorted him and a babbling Leo out of the building. The

ues were staring at me with a mixture of pity and morbid c

and confusion. "Sarah... what was that? Who is

t's all a lie," I plead

one, replaced by a deep, unsettling doubt. "I don't

the reception desk and turned t

her and Leo were taken to the local precinct for creating a public disturbance and trespassing. For a moment, I felt a flicker of relief. They were gone. But it was a hollow