Samuel finally found his voice, albeit a shaky one. “But, Dad, where will we go? We have nowhere else right now.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “You’re both adults, and you need to find a way to stand on your own feet. We’ve supported you for eight years—given you a home, food, and love. But this… this is not what family does.”

Everly’s eyes narrowed, and I saw a flash of something—was it fear or anger?—cross her face. “You’re making a mistake,” she spat. “You’ll regret this.”

Martha, who had been quietly standing by my side, finally spoke. Her voice was soft but unwavering. “I’ve loved having you in our home. I’ve loved you both. But I can’t continue living in a place where I am made to feel unwelcome and unwanted. I deserve joy in my own house.”

I nodded, grateful for her strength. I had always admired Martha’s quiet resilience, and now I felt it wrap around us like a protective shield. “You need to find a new place,” I reiterated. “We’ll help you with the transition, but it’s time you move on.”

Samuel’s shoulders slumped, and he ran a hand through his hair. For a moment, he looked like the little boy I had raised, unsure and vulnerable. “Dad, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I should have… I should have done more.”

“I know, son,” I said, my voice softening. “But now you have your own family to think about. It’s time to be accountable and make choices that are right for all of you.”

Everly pursed her lips but said nothing further, her eyes fixed on the floor. I hoped that eventually, she would see this moment not as a punishment but as an opportunity to build her own space—a place where she could thrive and let others do the same.

It took them a few weeks, but Samuel and Everly eventually found an apartment nearby. Our home felt different without them, quieter and decidedly emptier. Yet, in that emptiness, there was also peace—a sense of freedom and respect that had been missing for too long.

Martha and I resumed our routines, reclaiming our space and filling it with laughter and love. We visited our grandson often, relishing the role of grandparents without the constant undercurrent of tension. It was a new chapter for all of us—one that began with three simple words that none of us saw coming.