“Mind your own business, you’re not family,” said the daughter, turning away.
“Emily, have you picked out your prom dress yet?” asked Charlotte, spreading out bridal shop catalogues on the table. “Maybe we could go together and have a look?”
The fifteen-year-old stepdaughter glanced up from her phone and gave her a cold stare.
“Why do you care anyway? Ive got my mum to go with me.”
“Of course, I just thought” Charlotte felt the familiar sting of rejection. “Maybe all three of us could go? It might be fun.”
“No thanks. Mum can handle it.”
Charlotte sighed and pushed the catalogues aside. Outside, rain drizzled against the window, casting a gloomy mood. She checked her watchMason would be home from work soon, and the usual tightrope act between husband and daughter would begin again.
“Em, what would you like for dinner? I could make your favourite, steak Diane?”
“Whatever. Im going to Mums. She made cottage pie.”
The girl stood, grabbed her jacket from the hook.
“Emily, wait,” Charlotte stepped toward her. “Can we just talk properly? Why do you hate me so much? What have I ever done to you?”
Emily stopped at the door and slowly turned. Her eyes burned with an anger far beyond her years.
“Do you really not get it? Or are you just pretending?”
“I honestly dont understand.”
“You ruined our family!” the girl burst out. “Dad left Mum because of you! And now you act all sweet and caring!”
Charlottes breath caught in her throat. She sank onto a chair, too weak to stand.
“Emily, thats not true. When I met your dad, he was already living separately from your mum. They divorced long before”
“Liar!” Emily shouted. “Mum told me everything! How you stole him, how you schemed!”
“What schemes? Emily, I just worked at the same company as your dadwe only talked”
“Mind your own business, you’re not family!” Emily snapped, turning back to the door.
The words hit Charlotte harder than a slap. *Not family.* After three years of marriage to Mason, after every attempt to bond with his daughter, she was still an outsider.
The door slammed. Charlotte was alone in the empty flat. Tears streamed down her cheekstears she could no longer hold back.
When Mason came home, he noticed his wifes red-rimmed eyes right away.
“What happened?” He sat beside her on the sofa, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“Emily again,” Charlotte wiped her nose with a tissue. “Mase, she *hates* me. Really hates me.”
“What did she say this time?”
“That I ruined your family. That I stole you from her mum. Called me an outsider.”
Mason sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead.
“Char, come on. Weve talked about this a hundred times. Shes just a kidshe doesnt get it”
“A kid? Mason, shes fifteen! At her age, I was working part-time after school to help my mum. Your daughter acts like a spoiled princess!”
“Dont talk about her like that,” Masons voice hardened. “The divorce was traumatic for her.”
“The divorce was *four years* ago. Four, Mason! When does this stop?”
“Just be patient a little longer. Shell come around, realize youre not the enemy.”
Charlotte stood and paced the room.
“Be patient, be patienthow much longer? Im human too, Mason! Ive got feelings! Ive tried *so hard* to love her, and she”
“And she what?”
“She *despises* me! And you dont see itor you refuse to!”
Mason stood and moved toward her.
“Charlotte, I know its hard. But Emilys my daughter. I cant turn my back on her.”
“But you can on me?” she asked quietly.
“Whats that supposed to mean? Youre an adultyou understand the situation.”
“I understand. So Im supposed to take the insults and disrespect because Im grown up?”
“Dont twist it. Emily doesnt insult you, shes just”
“Doesnt insult me?” Charlotte let out a bitter laugh. “Did you *hear* what she said? Mind your own business, you’re not family! Thats not an insult?”
“She was upset”
“And Im not? It doesnt hurt *me*?”
They stood facing each other, and suddenly Charlotte realizedher husband would never take her side. For him, his daughter would always come first.
“You know what?” She walked into the bedroom and pulled a bag from the wardrobe. “Until you figure out your priorities, Ill stay at my sisters.”
“Charlotte, dont be ridiculous! Where are you going?”
“To Sophies. I need to think.”
“Youd throw away our marriage over *one* argument?”
Charlotte stopped in the doorway.
“Mason, this isnt one argument. Its *every day*. Every single day, I feel like an intruder in my own home. And you do *nothing* to change that.”
“What am I supposed to do? Punish my daughter for loving her mum?”
“You could at least make her understand that you *chose* me. That Im your wife. That she has to respect that.”
“Charlotte”
“No, Mason. Im tired of being the villain. Tired of apologizing for loving you. For marrying you.”
She packed a few essentials and headed for the door. Mason followed.
“Char, stay. Well talk it throughfigure it out.”
“Talk? Mason, weve been talking for *three years*. And whats changed? Emily still hates me just as much. You still defend her just as much.”
“Im not defending her. Im trying to understand”
“Understand *what*? That your daughter has the right to treat me like dirt? That she can act however she wants, and Im just supposed to take it?”
Charlotte pulled on her coat and grabbed her keys.
“I cant live like this anymore, Mason. I cant spend every day fighting for my place in this house.”
“What about our plans? The baby we talked about having?”
She froze, hand on the doorknob.
“What baby, Mason? In a house where your daughter *hates* me? Where Im an *outsider*? Do you *seriously* think shed treat our child kindly?”
“Shed come around”
“To *what*? That Im never leaving? She doesnt *want* me here! She wants you back with her mum!”
Mason hung his head.
“Charlotte, I dont know what to do. I love you *both*.”
“You cant love a wife and a daughter the *same way*. Its *different* love. And if you dont see that, then we dont have a future.”
She opened the door, but Mason grabbed her wrist.
“Wait. Lets talk to Emily *together*. Make her understand”
“Understand *what*? That she *has* to love me? Love isnt *negotiated*, Mason. Its *earned*. And how do I earn love from someone who blames me for everything?”
“Charlotte, *please*”
“I need time, Mason. To figure out if I can keep living like this.”
She stepped out into the rain, leaving him standing in the doorway. The bus ride to her sisters was quiet, the grey London streets blurring past as she replayed every momentmeeting Mason, falling in love, dreaming of a happy family.
Now that family was crumbling because of one childish, stubborn heart.
The next morning, her phone rangan unknown number.
“Charlotte? Its Sarah, Emilys mother. Can we talk?”
