As they pulled out of the school parking lot, Ashley's mom's face was a storm cloud.
"So, the school called me and told me everything. You destroyed a family with your lies, Ashley!"
Ashley's eyes flashed defiance. "It wasn't my fault, Mom! Laura started it, I was just trying to help!"
Her mom's voice was a razor's edge. "Help? You call that help? You're a manipulator, just like your father! I can't believe I'm stuck with a daughter like you!"
The car's interior was a pressure cooker, the tension building with each passing moment. Ashley's mom's words dripped with venom, her anger a palpable force.
As they turned onto their street, Ashley's mom spat out the words, "You're going to regret the day you ever crossed me, Ashley! You're grounded, no phone, no friends, no freedom! You're going to wish you never lied to me!"
