I hadn’t heard from my stepdaughter in nearly a year when she suddenly called, sounding cheerful and asking to meet for dinner. I was surprised but hopeful—maybe she wanted to reconnect. We met at a fancy restaurant, and right away, she started ordering the most expensive dishes on the menu. I tried to make conversation, but she barely engaged, giving short answers and glancing at her phone like she was waiting for something.
When the bill arrived, she whispered something to the waiter, then excused herself to the washroom. Minutes passed, and she never returned. I realized I had been set up—she had left me with the massive bill. Feeling hurt but not wanting to cause a scene, I paid and walked out, disappointed that she had only reached out to use me.
But just as I stepped outside, I heard something that made me freeze. A voice behind me called my name, and when I turned around, what I saw left me completely stunned.
