When I met Daniel, I was a young mother with a two-year-old daughter, Ellie, and a quiet hope that love could create a complete family again.
Daniel didn’t just accept Ellie; he embraced her. He listened to her stories, played at her level, and made space for her in every part of his life. When we married, Ellie walked between us down the aisle, holding both our hands.
A few years later, Daniel officially adopted her, and in that moment, our family felt whole. I believed love would be enough to bridge every gap left behind by divorce and absence. But while Daniel loved Ellie without hesitation, not everyone in his family welcomed her so easily.
Daniel’s mother, Carol, was never openly cruel, yet her distance spoke loudly.
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