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★02

"There you are," she snapped, her sharp eyes scanning the group huddled around the kitchen. She looked polished as always—immaculate hair, perfectly pressed blazer, and a permanent expression of disapproval etched on her face."Uh... morning, Mom?" Tayla tried, a nervous laugh bubbling up. She wasn't used to seeing her mother this early—or at all, if she could help it.Mrs. Morgan didn't waste a second. "I'll keep this brief," she said, setting her designer bag on the counter with a thud. "Since all three of you are now adults... get the hell out of my house."The room went dead silent. Even the sizzle of the egg in the pan seemed to quiet in response

Kai blinked. "Wait... what?"Mrs. Morgan crossed her arms, her expression cold and unwavering. "I've done my part. You've had long enough to figure out how to live, and I'm not running a charity. It's time for you three to be independent."Amber's jaw dropped. "You're kicking us out... today? On Tayla's birthday?"Tayla's heart sank, a knot forming in her stomach. She shouldn't have been surprised—her mom always had a way of making things about her—but this felt harsh, even by Mrs. Morgan's standards."Exactly," Mrs. Morgan said with a tight smile. "Happy 

birthday, darling. Now pack your things."Kai recovered first, forcing a grin. "Well, this is one hell of a birthday gift."Jaxon scratched the back of his neck, glancing at Tayla. "We... we'll figure something out, right?"Mrs. Morgan picked up her bag and gave a curt nod. "You'll thank me for this one day. Now get moving."With that, she turned on her heel and strutted out the door as if kicking her daughter and her friends out was just another item on her to-do list.Amber broke the stunned silence. "What the actual hell just happened?"Tayla rubbed her temples, frustration and disbelief swirling inside her. "What just happened," she muttered, "is that we got kicked out."For a moment, none of them knew what to say. Kai, always the optimist, leaned on the counter. "Alright, so... we need a new place. Fast."