part 2
Alina looked at her husband.
Mark frowned—but stayed silent.
She nodded and followed Victor outside.
I remained in the kitchen.
For the first time, Mark and Eleanor looked uncertain.
Control had slipped.
A DECISION, NOT A RESCUE
I couldn’t hear what Victor said to her outside.
But I knew him.
He wouldn’t tell her what to do.
He would give her space to decide.
When the door opened again, Alina stepped in first.
Something in her posture had changed.
Her eyes were steady.
“I’m leaving for a while,” she said calmly. “I need space. I need to think.”
Silence filled the room.
Mark’s jaw tightened.
Eleanor tried to intervene.
“You’re exaggerating. You know how Mark is—”
Alina raised her hand.
“I need this.”
Victor stepped forward.
“She’ll stay with me. She needs support. She’ll get it.”
No one argued.
THE MOMENT EVERYTHING SHIFTED
I looked at my daughter.
For weeks, she had looked smaller
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