Chapter 1959

Lisa looked up at her daughter then. "You don't have to worry about me, Ellen. I'm sure if you left on your own, Howie wouldn't be able to find you. You'd be able to start a whole new life then. A woman's most precious years of her life are her twenties. You're a big girl, Ellen. You should have a life of your own." Ellen did not turn around, tears streaming down her face at Lisa's words. Ellen felt her heart warm from her mother's love, and everything was worth it then. In fact, she knew she would be able to escape if she left on her own. Ellen could leave town, and her father would never find her again. However, her mother would starve to death. Ellen knew very well that Howie would not take care of Lisa, and she would be left to die if Ellen ran away. Ellen loved her mother and would never leave on her own because of that. "Ellen," Lisa said carefully. "Don't worry about me, Mom. I'm fine. Everything's fine, isn't it?" The next morning, Ellen was called to the office by