I called a “house meeting.” With calm resolve, I told them: The house and car are legally mine. They were gifts meant for Ava, not her in-laws to exploit. If they wanted to stay, they had to contribute. Otherwise, they could leave. They packed and left within a week. For the first time in months, Ava smiled — truly smiled. We cleaned,
rearranged, opened windows, and reclaimed her home. I handed her the car keys and said, “Let’s go for a drive.” Wind in our hair, music loud, and laughter free — my daughter was back. She’s not a servant. She’s my daughter. And I made sure no one forgets that again.