She strengthens the cottage’s security and places it in a legal trust to make future unauthorized transfers virtually impossible. She installs cameras, changes locks, and ensures that permanent fraud alerts are attached to the deed. The cottage becomes not only property but also a symbol of autonomy and boundaries.
Later, she unexpectedly runs into her father at a gas station. He looks broken and humbled. He says he’s undergoing treatment and “doing his best.” She responds politely, but maintains emotional distance. She understands something crucial: trying isn’t the same as rebuilding trust.
Later, her father violates his probation by missing mandatory checkups and allegedly visiting another casino. The court increases supervision and warns that jail time is possible if the violations continue. She watches from a distance, realizing she cannot save someone who refuses to take full responsibility.
Over time, she no longer sees the cabin as something to defend, but as something to build upon. She and Alex create a small garden. They entertain friends. Her mother comes to visit and begins rebuilding her own life after her divorce.
Ultimately, she and Alex decide to try for a child. She sets one condition: if they have a child, her father will not automatically receive financial support.
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