“It means you’re grounded.”
Layla blinked.
“…what?”
“You heard me.”
Her chest tightened.
“Dad, you can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious.”
Her mother looked between them, shaken.
“Maybe we should—”
“No,” her father said firmly.
“This ends now.”
Layla shook her head.
“No, it doesn’t.”
Her father ignored that.
“From this moment,” he continued, “you don’t leave this house unless it’s for school and I will take you to school and bring you back.”
Layla’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re controlling me now?”
“Yes.”
The answer came instantly without hesitation.
Layla let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
“That’s not going to change anything.”
“It will,” he said coldly.
“You won’t see him.”
Layla’s heart pounded.
“You can’t stop me.”
“Watch me.”
Her father continued.
“No
