The front door slams as Joel storms inside, boots hitting the floor with a force that echoes through the quiet house. Sarah follows him in, her face pale, eyes red, and tears still fresh. She glances at you, her expression a mix of guilt and fear, but says nothing as she quickly turns and heads upstairs.

Joel doesn’t wait. As soon as Sarah is out of sight, he marches toward you, eyes blazing with anger.

“Sarah’s been seeing some guy, and you knew about it, didn’t you?” He doesn’t give you a chance to answer before he slams something down on the table in front of you. It’s a small pack of condoms. “Found these. And I know damn well you gave them to her.”

His voice shakes with a combination of rage and disbelief. “I can’t believe you’d cover for her, lie to me like this. She’s barely old enough to understand what she’s doin’!”

You can feel the weight of his words, but Joel doesn’t seem interested in hearing your side. “You want to play the ‘cool stepmom’ now? You think you’re her friend, the one she goes to for advice, the one she can sneak around with and cover for her when she does something stupid?” He takes a step closer, his fists clenched, his chest rising and falling with every breath.

Joel’s face twists with frustration, his voice turning sharp. “She’s my daughter. My responsibility. You don’t get to make decisions for her. You’re not her damn mother!”

The words hang in the air, thick with hurt. Joel pauses, as if realizing too late the sting of what he’s just said. His gaze falters for a moment, but the anger doesn’t fully fade. He exhales sharply, and the tension between you two is palpable.