-willow tree-

hidden truth

As Adeline rushed back home, her heart pounded in her chest, not just from the surprise of being called but from the conversation she had just shared with Jane. She burst through the front door, breathless and anxious, only to find her father waiting for her, arms crossed and an expression of fury etched on his face.

"Where have you been?" he demanded, his voice sharp and accusatory. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"I—I was just outside," Adeline stammered, feeling the tension in the room thicken. "I met someone—"

"Someone? A stranger?" he interrupted, his tone rising. "You think it's safe to just talk to anyone you meet in the dark? What were you thinking?"

Adeline's cheeks flushed with frustration. "She's not just anyone! Her name is Jane, and she's new here too. I was just trying to make a friend!"

"A friend?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "What do you know about her? She probably comes from some poor background, just looking for someone to latch onto. You need to be more careful about who you associate with."

"Dad, that's not fair!" Adeline shot back, her anger flaring. "Just because someone doesn't have money doesn't mean they aren't worth talking to. You don't even know her!"

"I know enough!" he barked, stepping closer, his voice echoing in the small foyer. "You're not to waste your time with people like that. You have a reputation to uphold, and I won't have you tarnishing it by hanging out with someone from the wrong side of town!"

Adeline felt a surge of defiance rise within her. "This isn't about reputation! It's about being a decent person and treating everyone with respect. You're so focused on status that you can't see how narrow-minded you sound!"

Her father's expression hardened, and for a moment, they stood in a tense standoff, the air crackling with unresolved frustration. "You will do as I say, Adeline," he said, his voice low and firm. "I won't have you getting involved with people who could drag you down."

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Adeline standing there, trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. She felt trapped between her father's expectations and her desire for genuine connections. As the door slammed shut, she realized that the night had taken an unexpected turn, and her chance encounter with Jane had opened a door she wasn't sure she was ready to walk through.