In the days that followed, I made the necessary reports and focused on restoring calm to our home. One evening, I sat with Avery and showed her the college fund I had been building since she was small. I told her, without hesitation, that she was my daughter in every way that mattered and that my commitment to her was something I cherished. She reached for my hand, and in that quiet moment, I felt peace return. Thirteen years earlier, a frightened little girl decided I was someone she could trust. Today, I choose her with the same certainty. Family, I’ve learned, isn’t determined by blood — it’s created through presence, loyalty, and love that endures through every challenge.
