(Derek)
I watched Olivia carefully as she continued to eat, her eyes fixed on the plate as if the world outside didn’t exist.
We hadn’t talked much since she moved in but now felt like the right time to set things straight.
I cleared my throat, setting my chopsticks down.
“Olivia, we need to talk.” She looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“About what?” She asked.
After everything she’d been through, I needed her to understand that life in my house came with expectations. And I wasn’t going to let her fall into old habits of mistrust and doubt. Not here. Not with me.
“You’re living with me now, and I know that things are still raw for you, with what happened,” I began, choosing my words carefully.
“But there are a few rules we need to set while you’re here. Not because I want t
