❝Why do always call me Cherry?❞
❝Because your lips taste like Cherries.❞
When teenage supervillain Havoc stands up to the head of the League of Villains, Colby Madden's family is forced to change their identities and relocate to a sleepy Texas subur...
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𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐌 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 fully into the room, the sunlight streaming behind her casting her in a halo that made the moment feel unreal. Her expression was carefully neutral, but her eyes betrayed a deep undercurrent of emotion—something between resolve, regret, and worry. Aveline's stomach dropped instantly, a cold knot forming in her chest.
"Mom?" she said again, her voice shaky, echoing off the walls of the bedroom. Her gaze darted around, hoping, praying that maybe Colby would appear, that he'd walk in with a grin and tell her this was all some weird misunderstanding. But the room remained empty except for her, her bed, and the faint traces of their Christmas decorations still glowing softly.
Her mom took a hesitant step forward, and for the first time, Aveline noticed how tired her mother looked, the subtle lines etched around her eyes, the way her shoulders sagged slightly beneath the weight of some invisible burden.
"Aveline," she began, her voice low and steady, trying to keep it calm, "I... I need to tell you something."
Aveline's heart thudded painfully against her ribs. "What is it? Mom... what's going on?"
Her mother swallowed, glancing toward the window as if she were searching for answers there. "I... I'm leaving Valley View. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I'll be taking you with me. We're going to Minnesota."
The words hit Aveline like a slap. Her stomach dropped further, her knees nearly buckling. "Minnesota?!" she shouted, voice cracking. "Why?! What about—what about everything here? Colby... my friends... our life?"
Her mom's eyes softened. "I know it's sudden. I know it's a lot to take in. But I've thought about this for a long time. You and I... we could use a fresh start. A new beginning. Somewhere quieter, somewhere safer."
Aveline shook her head frantically, pacing the room. "But it's Christmas! Tomorrow is Christmas! I can't just leave like that! And Colby—Colby's not here, and he... he's—he's my Christmas! You can't just take that away from me!"
Her mother's face fell slightly, as if she'd expected resistance but not this degree of raw emotion. "Aveline, I'm not trying to take anything away from you. I promise, this isn't about punishment or separation. It's about opportunity, about... making sure you're taken care of. But I can't do this alone, and I need you with me. I need you to come."
Aveline's hands trembled, fists clenched at her sides. "You can't just decide that for me! Colby... he's here. I belong here!" Her voice rose, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. "Everything I've built here, all the things that matter to me—family, friends, our traditions—how can you expect me to just leave all of that?"
Her mom stepped closer, cautiously, but kept her distance enough not to overwhelm her. "Aveline, I'm not asking you to leave your memories behind. You'll take them with you. But life... life doesn't wait for us to be ready. Sometimes, we have to take leaps, even when it's scary. Even when it hurts."
