I stood outside my father's old apartment, my heart pounding in my chest. I was ready to confront him, to demand answers. I couldn't let the lies and confusion control me any longer.
As I rang the doorbell with Stan by my side, my nerves were high. The door creaked open, and there he stood—my father. He looked older, tired, his face worn with years of regret.
"Sophia..." His voice cracked as he saw me.
"I need to know, Dad," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "I need to know why you left. Why you abandoned us. I need the truth."
He stepped back, motioning for me to come inside. "I've been waiting for you. I didn't want to hurt you, Sophia. I was trying to protect you."
As I walked into his dimly lit apartment, I felt like I was stepping into a different world. The smell of old wood an
