Now, the very foundation of their survival was crumbling, and the spirit they once admired was suddenly a liability.

“Rachel,” Evelyn pleaded, turning back to me, ignoring her son’s shouting. “We’ve known each other for ten years. I treated you like a daughter.”

“You treated me like a bank, Evelyn,” I said.

“That’s not fair,” she whispered, a tear spilling over her wrinkled cheek.

“You called me three times last week,” I said. “None of those calls were to ask how I was doing. They were all about the rent increase on your shop.”

Evelyn closed her mouth, her eyes dropping to the concrete.

“I paid your rent because I loved Daniel,” I said. “I supported Marcus because I believed we were building a future together.”

I adjusted my coat, the cold wind biting at my neck.

“But Daniel decided my presence in this family was a threat to his daughter’s comfort,” I continued. “He wanted me gone. So, I am gone.”

“Rachel, please,” Daniel said, his voice cracking. “We can talk about this. We can go to counseling.”

“We are past talking, Daniel,” I said.