Chapter 1: The Man Who Remembered My Favorite Restaurant
My stepfather disappeared after my mom died — years later, he showed up at my door and insisted on taking me to my favorite restaurant
So when someone knocked on my dorm room door and said, "Sophie.
You got a visitor," Ronnie was the last person I expected to see.
I stepped into the hallway.
The man who disappeared after my mom died and left my grandmother to take care of me was standing there smiling like nothing had happened.
"Ronnie?
What are you doing here?"
His grin widened.
"Come on, kid.
What's with the 'Ronnie'?
We're family.
Call me Dad."
I couldn't believe him.
"We're not family."
For a second, something shifted in his face.
Then the smile came right back.
"Still stubborn, huh?"
He handed me a small package.
Inside was a pink pen with a bunny on top.
I stared at it.
"I'm not ten anymore."
"Ah, come on, Sophie.
It's a joke!
Lighten up."
I should've told him to leave.
But as much as I hated to admit it, part of me wanted to know why he'd come back.
"Why are you really here?"
He didn't answer.
He put an arm around me and smiled.
"Let's celebrate.
Your favorite restaurant is still in town, right?"
That made me pause.
He remembered.
"Ronnie—"
"Dad," he corrected, his tone sharp for the first time.
I hesitated.
"Ron...
Dad.
It's expensive."
He winked.
"Don't worry, kid.
Tonight, it's all on me."
I should've said no.
Instead, I nodded.
At the restaurant, something changed.
Ronnie joked with me, asked about school, even talked about Mom.
And against my better judgment, I started enjoying myself.
Maybe he'd actually come back because he regretted leaving.
By the time dessert arrived, I'd almost convinced myself this was real.
Then Ronnie set down his drink.
"You talk to your grandma much?"
Something about his voice made me look up.
"What?"
"Your grandma, sweetheart.
How's her health?"
The question felt strange, but I answered carefully.
"We talk sometimes.
She's fine."
Ronnie smiled.
"She's very generous, huh?
Paying for your school like that?"
And suddenly, the whole dinner felt different.
"I guess."
He tapped his fingers against the table.
"Gotta have a lot of money to do that, huh?"
My stomach tightened.
"Ronnie—"
"Dad," he corrected, and this time there was no warmth in his voice.
I stared at him.
"R—Dad...
what's this about?"
He sighed and leaned toward me.
"Look, sweetheart, I got myself into a little situation."
Then he admitted it.
He wanted a loan from my grandmother.
I couldn't believe it.
"Then why don't you ask her yourself?"
Ronnie's expression darkened for half a second.
"We've had...
communication issues."
But he kept pushing.
"Sophie.
She loves you.
She'd do anything for you.
Just talk to her, sweetheart.
She won't say no to you."
And suddenly, I understood what the dinner had really been about.
I should've walked away right then.
But in the end, I agreed to help him.
The next day, I sat across from Grandma, trying to find the courage to ask her for the money without telling her why I really needed it.
"I...
need money.
Just some...
debts.
For school.
I'll pay it back, I swear."
Grandma looked at me for a long moment.
"Sophie," she said softly.
"Why don't you tell me the truth?"
My stomach dropped.
"This is about Ronnie, isn't it?"
I froze.
"H—How did you—"
Grandma shook her head.
"Because this isn't the first time."
Grandma told me Ronnie had come to her for money before.
He'd make promises, get what he wanted, and disappear again.
I felt sick.
"You're…
not mad?"
She looked at me.
Then she did one thing I didn't expect.
"No, sweetheart.
But I'm giving you a choice."
---
May you like
What choice did Grandma give Sophie — and will Sophie finally stand up to Ronnie?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
