But I didn’t sense any real remorse from her.
“All right,” I said slowly. “Then from now on, you’ll take over all the housework.”
“What?” she gasped.
“Since you threw away my belongings, you need to make up for it. You’ll help with the daily chores and take responsibility,” I said firmly.
“Why should I have to do that?” she protested.
“If you don’t like it, that’s fine,” I replied calmly. “But in that case, I won’t be able to pay your tuition anymore, including the cost of the school trip.”
“Huh? No, I can’t miss the school trip. That would be awful,” Olivia exclaimed, looking panicked.
“Then you’ll need to do the housework every day for a year. As I said, if you don’t agree, I might have to report what you did to the police,” I replied calmly.
“The police? Are you serious?” Olivia’s voice shook.
“You haven’t shown any real regret. I don’t see another way,” I said, holding my ground.
“Okay, I understand. Please don’t go to the police,” she said, her face going pale and drained of energy.
It seemed that my firm stance had an effect, and she finally seemed to be taking it seriously.
After that, Olivia did exactly as I asked and handled the household chores daily. She learned to clean, do laundry, and cook, getting better at each task as time went on.
It was clear that her hard work was paying off. Her skills improved, and she started to take pride in them. Eventually, she found joy in cooking and even began to experiment with recipes.
Some of her dishes turned out so well that she started inviting family and friends over to share them.
From that point on, Olivia’s attitude toward me changed. Jerry also helped guide her, keeping a close eye on her behavior.
For a full year, she managed the housework, and little by little, I noticed a positive shift in her personality. She began to say thank you for small things, and her attitude softened. The hardness in her seemed to slowly fade away.
In her final year of high school, Olivia worked hard on her entrance exams and was accepted into a university. She came to me, her face full of joy, and said, “Thanks to your help, I was able to finish high school. I’m truly grateful.”
“You did a great job. Congratulations,” I replied, truly happy for her.
I genuinely wanted to support her as she moved on to the next stage of her life. Olivia had become an important part of our family, and we both agreed to leave the past behind and start fresh.
One day, she came to me with a surprising request.
“I want to handle my university fees on my own using a scholarship,” she said quietly.
I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“Are you sure? Do you really want to do that?” I asked.
“Yes. I want to manage everything on my own,” she answered confidently.
“Olivia,” I said, deeply moved by her decision.
It was clear she was growing up, becoming more independent, and my heart swelled with pride. Jerry was also touched by how much she had matured.
“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask,” he told her warmly.
I spoke gently, and she looked at me with gratitude.
“Yes. Thank you so much,” she said.
After that, Olivia started her university life. She was busy but happy, managing her studies, part-time jobs, and club activities. She worked hard and passed all her courses each year.
By her final year, she was focused on writing her thesis. In the end, she got a job at the place she had always wanted to work.
Olivia is now a fully independent adult, and we have no worries about her future.
Meanwhile, Jerry and I welcomed a child a few years ago, who is now 6 years old. The three of us are living happily together, and Olivia often visits to play with our son.
At first, I wasn’t sure how things would go, but I’m truly thankful that Olivia has changed and become closer to our family. We look forward to keeping our family’s strong and warm bonds for years to come.
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