Later that evening, once they were both calm and the house was quiet, Lena decided it was necessary to talk to Alex about what had happened. She knocked on his door and entered after he told her it was okay.

"I feel terrible about it," Lena continued. "But I also want you to know that you're safe here, and you're loved. If you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here for you. I know it's not always easy being part of a blended family, but I want you to feel comfortable coming to me with anything."

Lena quickly apologized and left the room, closing the door behind her. She felt a mix of emotions - shock, embarrassment for Alex, and concern about how to handle the situation.