I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a small smile playing at the corners of my lips. “Oh, I know,” I replied evenly. “That was the plan.”

Shock flickered across his face. “What do you mean?”

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “Dad, I didn’t scheme behind anyone’s back or sabotage him if that’s what you’re thinking. But I did speak up. I highlighted how his behavior—his so-called ‘toughening up’—is damaging, not just to Lucas but everywhere he goes.”

Frank’s mouth opened and closed, struggling to find the right response. “But why?”

“Because someone had to stop him,” I said firmly. “Someone has to show him that the world is changing, and his outdated ideals of masculinity and strength don’t belong anymore. And if that someone has to be me, then so be it.”

We stood in silence, the morning air pregnant with words unsaid. I could see the internal battle waging within my father—years of ingrained beliefs clashing with the reality laid bare before him. He finally sighed, a sound heavy with resignation.

“Your mother and I… we thought we were raising you to be strong by being hard on you,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe we were wrong.”

The admission was unexpected, a tiny crack in his imposing façade. It was a start, albeit a small one. I nodded, a silent acknowledgment that perhaps this was as close to an apology as he could muster.

“I’m raising Lucas differently, Dad. He’ll know that strength comes from kindness, empathy, and standing up for what’s right,” I said softly.

He nodded, a gesture I chose to interpret as understanding. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s time we all learn something new.”

As he walked away, I closed the door, feeling a shift, subtle yet significant. A new chapter was opening—not just in my life but in how my family might redefine itself. And that was enough for now.

With Lucas still asleep, clutching a new stuffed animal I’d given him last night, I felt hopeful. Hopeful that he’d grow up in a world kinder and more understanding than the one my father and Derek had known. And in that hope, I found my strength.