The morning sun crept shyly through the half-drawn curtains, spilling golden light across the living room. Adam sat slumped on the couch, face pale from exhaustion and no sleep. His chest hurt—he'd searched the whole city for Ava last night and still found nothing. Just her absence everywhere he went.
Daphne came in quietly, her robe dragging behind her. When she saw him, her eyes softened.
"I didn't ask you to go looking for her that late," she said, trying to sound firm but her voice trembled.
Adam looked up, his eyes red. "It's Ava, mom. I had to. I just had to." His voice cracked. "But I didn't find her. I couldn't."
He dropped his face in his hands and Daphne sat beside him, arms wrapping around his shoulders.
"Adam," she said softly, "sometimes people leave not cause they want to—but cause they've been hurt too much."
Before he could reply, loud voices came from upstairs. Daphne sighed as Leslie came storming down, with Dawn right behind her, both looking ready to explode.
"You have to stop bossing me around, Dawn! I'm almost eighteen, I can make my own choices!" Leslie shouted, rolling her eyes.
"So that makes you mature now huh?" Dawn shot back, voice shaking. "That gives you the right to date boys?"
"Girls my age date! You're not my mom so you don't get to control my life!"
Adam and Daphne exchanged worried looks. The peace of the morning was gone.
Dawn's hands were trembling even as she yelled. "You should be grateful you even get to go to school and live well! I worked so hard for that, Leslie!"
"I am grateful," Leslie fired back, her voice breaking. "But that doesn't mean you can control everything I do!"
Jason appeared halfway down the stairs, staring at both of them like he'd walked into a storm.
"You're almost eighteen right?" Dawn stepped closer. "Then where's your house? Your job? Your car?" Her voice turned sharp. "You live under my roof so you will abide by my rules."
"Fine!" Leslie snapped. "Then maybe I'll move out!"
"Oh really? And go where? To Liam's?" Dawn folded her arms. "Pretty sure his parents won't be happy about that."
Leslie's eyes filled up, but she blinked fast. "I'm tired of you trying to control my life! I mean it this time!" She turned and rushed back upstairs.
"The door's that way," Dawn said coldly, pointing.
Jason followed after her, but Dawn just stood there, breathing hard. Adam came over and pulled her close before she completely broke.
"She's just a teen," he whispered, running a hand through her hair. "They all think they're grown till life proves them wrong. She'll come around."
He kissed her forehead and went upstairs. Daphne led Dawn to the couch, patting her back.
"She didn't mean it," she said softly. "And neither did you. You're both hurt."
Tears slipped down Dawn's cheeks. "Thank you, Mom."
Daphne blinked. "You just called me Mom... again."
"Yes," Dawn whispered, smiling shakily. "Because that's what you've been all this time."
Daphne's eyes filled. "You'll always have me, sweetheart."
* * * * * *
Outside, the air was cold and heavy. Tara stood across the street from the Manchesters' house, clutching her phone. She wanted to knock, say something, fix everything but her feet wouldn't move.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Dawn.
"Thank you for destroying my life."
Tara froze. Her heart dropped. She fumbled to unlock the phone and realized that she'd sent that message. She'd actually sent it by mistake. The one meant to delete.
"Leslie's grade is dropping again and she's dating a boy."
Her mouth fell open. "Oh no. Oh no no no... how did this even send?"
Panic hit hard. "I can't stay here. Not when they've find out."
She shoved the phone in her pocket and started running, wind tearing through her hair, guilt chasing her every step.
* * * * * *
Upstairs, Leslie paced her room while Jason sat on her bed, frowning.
"Thanks for keeping my secret," Leslie said sharply.
Jason groaned. "I told you, I didn't tell Dawn. We were together that whole day."
"You were the only one I told!" she fired back.
"Maybe someone overheard," Jason said calmly. "Remember what you said before—proof isn't everything."
Leslie stopped pacing. "Wait… when Tara told Dawn I went to that party, how did she even know?"
Jason gave her a look. "Exactly."
Before she could say anything, a knock came on the door.
"Come in," Leslie said, trying to sound normal. "I can't exactly lock my best friend out."
Adam walked in, tired but trying to smile. "Glad you think of me that way, but right now, I'm talking like a parent."
Jason started to walk away, but Adam motioned for him to stay. "You too. Both of you need to hear this."
He sat down on the edge of the bed. "Leslie, I get it, you're growing up. But growing up doesn't mean rushing into things you don't understand yet. You're smart, focus on school first, not boys."
"I'm just living my life," she muttered.
Adam gave a small smile. "If Dawn did that, would she have been able to raise you three? She gave up everything. Don't waste it."
Jason nodded. "He's right, Les."
Adam leaned forward. "Promise me you'll stay away from… what's his name again, Lex?"
Leslie sniffled, half laughing. "It's Liam."
Adam chuckled. "See? I can't even remember his name. That's how unimportant he is."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. We'll just be friends."
"Uh huh," Adam said, raising a brow. "You're sneaky, you know that?"
"That's my way of life," she grinned, and Jason laughed. For the first time in days, the house felt alive again.
* * * * * *
Across town, Ava sat in her old apartment, staring blankly at the ceiling. The air smelled of dust and old perfume. She dropped her bag and collapsed onto the couch.
"Adam didn't even come for me," she whispered, voice shaking. "After everything we've been through, he just… let me go."
Her eyes filled as she cried quietly. "How could Dawn think I'd ever hurt her?"
Then, suddenly, a flash ....
The plumber.
Her tears stopped. She sat up straight, remembering. "He was fixing the sink while I went upstairs to get his payment. He could've slipped something into her food." Her breath quickened. "But why? Who sent him?"
Her phone buzzed, it was Adam calling. She stared at the screen, hand trembling, then set it down.
"No," she whispered. "They didn't believe me. Let them figure it out themselves."
She leaned back, crying again but softer this time, like she'd given up fighting it.
* * * * * *
Next morning, the sky looked gray and tired. The twins were getting ready for school. Adam was preparing to go search for Ava again. Dawn stood in the kitchen, stirring oatmeal slowly.
Leslie came in, her voice small. "Good morning, sis."
Dawn didn't reply.
"I know I went too far yesterday," Leslie said, swallowing hard. "I was mad… but that doesn't excuse what I said. I'm sorry."
Dawn stayed quiet, eyes on the pot. Leslie sighed and turned to leave but then she noticed something on the floor. A tiny fake mustache.
She bent down, smiling faintly. "What's this doing here? Who's pretending to be someone?"
Dawn turned quickly. The sight of it made her freeze.
"That's… that's the plumber's," she whispered.
Leslie blinked. "Plumber? What plumber?"
Dawn's pulse picked up. "That day… it wasn't just me and Ava in the house. There was a third person."
Leslie's eyes widened. "You mean ...?"
"Yes," Dawn said, gripping the mustache like proof. "Someone else tried to hurt me and make it look like Ava did."
The kitchen fell silent, a chill cutting through the morning air as the truth started to settle in.