Chapter 41

Mitchell placed her phone closer to her ears to listen to the unknown caller. The voice sounded like that of her her long-lost father, a man who had walked out on their family when she and her sister were just children. It was a call she never expected, and now, she found herself confronted with a flood of memories and unanswered questions.

"Hello?" Mitchell finally spoke, her voice a mixture of surprise and cautious curiosity.

"Mitchell, it's me, your father," the voice on the other end replied, filled with a mixture of hope and remorse. "I know it's been a long time, and I can't change the past, but I'm calling to ask for your forgiveness."

The words hung in the air, and Mitchell's mind raced with conflicting emotions. She had spent years longing for her father's presence, wondering why he had left them without a word. Now that he had shown up, she was faced with a choice to open herself up to reconciliation or to protect herself from further hurts.

Taking a deep breath, Mitchell