After years of bitterness, my stepfather took me to my favorite restaurant – but his gesture wasn’t motivated by love.

I never received visitors. So when Rachel knocked on the door and said someone was waiting for me, I didn’t expect it to be him – Ronnie, the stepfather who disappeared after my mother died. He smiled as if we were family, called himself “dad,” and invited me to dinner. I should have walked away. But instead, I followed him.

The pages of my book were blurry as my eyes skimmed through the notes, formulas, and highlighted excerpts. Finals were approaching, and I had no time for distractions. But Suzy had other plans.

“You won’t believe it,” she said, lying on the bed, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger. “He really made the proposal for me. Like, without even asking. Can you believe it?”

I mumbled something without much interest, still focused on the book.

Suzy sighed dramatically.

“Sophie, you’re the worst audience. Aren’t you even going to pretend to be outraged?”

I smiled and finally looked up.

“I don’t know, Suzy. Maybe he thought you’d take too long to decide.”

She screamed, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at me.

“Rude!”

I dodged it, laughing.

“I’m just saying I’ve seen you take twenty minutes to choose a milkshake flavor.”

Before she could respond with sharp sarcasm, a knock on the door interrupted the moment.

Suzy raised an eyebrow.

“Expecting someone?”

I shook my head. No one was coming to see me.

Rachel, a girl from the hall, appeared at the door.

“Sophie, you have a visitor.”

I blinked.

“A visitor?”

Rachel pointed her thumb toward the hallway.

“Yeah. He’s out there. Looks… familiar?”

My stomach turned.

Confused, I stood up and walked past her, my heart racing.

And then I saw him.

Ronnie.

He was near the entrance, hands in the pockets of a worn leather jacket, slightly rocking back on his heels, as if unsure whether he should be there.

His graying hair was slicked back, and his smile was the same as I remembered – too easy, too familiar, too rehearsed.

My feet felt like they weighed a ton.

Rachel leaned toward me.

“Do you know him?”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. Yes, I knew him.

And now, after all these years, after he disappeared when I needed him most… he was there.

I looked at him, still trying to understand how that man – the man who vanished from my life – was suddenly standing before me, smiling as if we had some kind of bond.

“Ronnie?” I repeated, my voice higher this time. “What are you doing here?”

His smile widened.

“Come on, kiddo. What’s with the ‘Ronnie’? ” He placed a hand on his chest, pretending to be hurt. “We’re family. Call me dad.”

The word made me nauseous, churning in my stomach like spoiled milk.

I straightened my shoulders.

“We’re not family.”

His expression didn’t change, but I saw a flicker of something in his eyes – irritation, maybe, or frustration.

But as quickly as it appeared, it was replaced by the same carefree smile.

“Still stubborn, huh?” He extended his hand and patted my shoulder, as if he had the right. “Let’s catch up. It’s been too long.”

Too long?

I clenched my fists. He disappeared after my mom died.

He left me to fend for myself while my grandmother took over the responsibility that should have been his. She paid for everything – my food, my school, my survival.

And now he was there, acting like he had never abandoned me.

I took a deep breath.

“Why now?”

His smile didn’t falter. Instead, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small package wrapped in tissue paper.

“I’ve got something for you,” he said, handing it over.

I hesitated before taking it, my fingers stiff as I unwrapped the delicate layers.

Inside was a pink pen – the kind with a little bunny on the end, ears drooping as if it had been taken from a cheap souvenir shop.

I let out a dry, humorless laugh.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

Ronnie tilted his head, amused.

“What?”

I lifted the pen, shaking it slightly.

“I’m not ten anymore.”

I should have walked away. But I didn’t.

Because, as much as I hated to admit it, something about that sudden attention… felt good.

And I wanted to know the real reason he was there.

“Let’s have dinner,” Ronnie said, ignoring my reaction. “My treat. Your favorite restaurant. Let’s catch up.”

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes.

“My favorite restaurant? Do you even know what it is?”

He laughed.

“Of course I do. The Italian place downtown. You always ordered lasagna and saved half for later. Your mom thought it was funny.”

My nails dug into the palm of my hand. He remembered. Part of me wanted him to be wrong, to be making up anything to get close. But he was right. It was my favorite restaurant – or at least, it had been.

“And why should I accept this invitation?” I asked, crossing my arms.

Ronnie stepped forward, his expression becoming more serious.

“Because I owe you, Sophie. I can’t change the past, but I can try to make it up now.”

Make it up? As if one dinner could make up for years of abandonment?

But, against my better judgment, I agreed.

The restaurant still smelled of basil and freshly fried garlic. The yellow lights created a cozy atmosphere, almost transporting me back to the times when my mom and I used to come here together.

We sat at a table by the window. I ordered my usual lasagna. He ordered the same, as if that somehow connected us.

The conversation started off superficial. Comments about how I had grown, about my college. But then, he dropped what seemed like his true intention.

“I need a favor, Sophie.”

My spine stiffened.

“Ah. Of course. That’s why you’re here.”

He raised his hands in a calming gesture.

“It’s not what it seems.”

“It’s not? Because it’s exactly what I expected. You disappear for years, come back out of nowhere pretending to want to reconnect, but really need something. So just tell me, what is it? Money? Help with something illegal? What is it this time?”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

“There’s an inheritance.”

I blinked, surprised.

“What?”

“Your mom. She left a sum for you. But when she died, there was a mess with the documents. I thought the money was lost, but…” he hesitated, “… I recently found out the fund still exists. It’s in your name. And I… well, I need a part of it.”

My throat went dry.

“You’re telling me you disappeared for years, never helped me with anything, and now you want me to give you money?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“I’m not asking for it all. Just a little. I’m in a tough spot. I need to pay off some debts. Sophie, you don’t understand, these guys—”

I raised my hand, cutting him off.

“I don’t care. You’re not entitled to any of this.”

Ronnie’s expression hardened. The easy smile disappeared, revealing the true face of the man I always knew he was.

“Look, girl, don’t be ungrateful. I’m still your stepdad.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“You were never my stepdad. You were an impostor my mom loved. And I don’t owe you anything.”

I stood up, grabbing my purse.

“Sophie, wait. We can talk about this—”

“No.” I threw some bills on the table to pay my part. “It’s over, Ronnie. You have no power over me anymore.”

And then I walked out, not looking back.

The cold night air hit my face as I stepped onto the sidewalk, but for the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe again.

I would never look back.