Ryan stepped out of his car and stared at the tall, silent church. The sky was grey, and the cold air pressed against his chest. He wasn’t ready for this day. His heart ached as he thought, “We couldn’t even give Dad a proper funeral.” Just then, a loud bark shattered the silence. “Bella?” Ryan turned quickly. Inside the car, his German Shepherd was jumping and barking like crazy. Her eyes were locked on the church, and her body was tense. “Bella! Down!” Ryan commanded, using a hand signal. She

Chris and Amanda: The Truth That Changed Everything Chris took a deep breath and looked up at his parents’ big fancy house. The lights inside glowed warmly, but his heart felt heavy. “I just want to get this over with,” he muttered, staring at the front door. Amanda, standing beside him, gently rubbed his arm. “They’re your parents, honey. Don’t you want them to accept me already? And come to our wedding?” Chris sighed loudly. “Honestly, Amanda, I don’t even care anymore. If they can’t accept the woman I love,

I walked through the door, hoping for the usual calm of my apartment, a haven I’d grown to love. But what I found was something I couldn’t have prepared for. There, in my bathroom, was my mother-in-law, Linda. She was soaking in my bathtub, surrounded by my candles, using my bath gel, and wrapped up in my towel. That’s when it hit me. She hadn’t just moved in—she’d taken over. I could almost hear the words echo in my head: “This is my space now.” I smiled, trying to keep