Chapter 14: The Stained Cardigan**
That evening, Elena visited her father’s home—a quiet craftsman bungalow near the coastline.
Arthur was sitting on the front porch, watching the sunset cast golden hues across the Atlantic Ocean. Hanging on the wooden coat rack near the entrance was the old brown cardigan, thoroughly washed and patched, but still bearing the faint marks of years of honest labor.
Elena sat down in the wicker chair next to him, handing him a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
“David asked me out for dinner tonight,” she said quietly, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Arthur chuckled softly, taking a sip of his coffee. “He’s a good young man, Ellie. His father worked our docks during the harsh winter of '98. Good family. Honest people.”
Elena leaned her head against her father’s shoulder. “I don't care about what family he comes from or how much he has in his bank account, Dad. I care about how he treats people when he thinks nobody is watching.”
May you like
Arthur smiled, placing a warm, heavy hand over hers. “Then you finally learned the only lesson that truly matters.”
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