{"id":22481,"date":"2025-12-05T13:26:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T13:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=22481"},"modified":"2025-12-05T13:26:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T13:26:39","slug":"22481","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=22481","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI can still see gray in the grout, Ella,\u201d Margaret\u2019s voice cut through the heavy air.<\/p>\n

Ella didn\u2019t look up. She kept her head down, her small hand clutching a stiff-bristled toothbrush that had seen better days. \u201cYes, Stepmother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margaret stood by the granite island, the very picture of suburban perfection. She wore a crisp floral sundress, her hair sprayed into an immobile helmet of curls. In her hand, a glass of iced tea sweated cool droplets onto the counter. The ice clinked\u2014a musical, taunting sound in the silent kitchen.<\/p>\n

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\u201cYour father comes home in three days,\u201d Margaret said, taking a slow sip. \u201cIf he sees this house in shambles, he\u2019ll know exactly what kind of girl you\u2019ve become while he was away. Lazy. Ungrateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ella scrubbed harder. The bristles rasped against the stone.\u00a0I\u2019m not lazy,<\/em>\u00a0she thought, though she didn\u2019t dare say it aloud.\u00a0I\u2019m just tired.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cI can still see gray in the grout, Ella,\u201d Margaret\u2019s voice cut through the heavy air. Ella didn\u2019t look up. She kept her head down, her small hand clutching a stiff-bristled toothbrush that had seen better days. \u201cYes, Stepmother.\u201d Margaret stood by the granite island, the very picture of suburban perfection. She wore a crisp…<\/p>\n

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