**Chapter 7: A New Beginning**

A cacophony of laughter and playful shouts echoed through the house, jolting Ashley awake. She sat up in bed, her heart racing for a moment, before she realized it wasn't the usual angry yelling she was used to. This was different - it was happy, carefree noise. As she threw off the covers and got out of bed, she heard Ethan and Mia's voices, teasing each other about something. Ashley's curiosity got the better of her, and she made her way downstairs to see what all the commotion was about. The kitchen was filled with the delicious smell of pancakes and fresh coffee. Ethan and Mia were standing at the counter, grinning at each other like fools. Karen was sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee and smiling at the chaos. "Good morning, sleepyhead!" Ethan called out to Ashley, making Mia giggle. Ashley smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Morning," she replied, trying to sound casual. Karen stood up and walked over to Ashley. "Good morning, sweetie. Today's the day we get you some new clothes. How does that sound?" Ashley's eyes widened with excitement. She had been wearing the same stained and tattered outfit for so long that the thought of new clothes was almost too much to bear. The Smiths finished breakfast, and then they set off on their shopping trip. As they drove to the mall, Ashley felt a sense of excitement building up inside her. She had never been to a mall before, and the thought of buying new clothes was thrilling. At the mall, Karen took Ashley to a sports store, where she bought her a pair of brand new blue and white Jordan 1s. Ashley was over the moon with excitement as she tried on the shoes and admired herself in the mirror. Next, they went to a clothing store, where Karen bought Ashley eight new outfits, a mix of casual and dressy clothes. Ashley couldn't believe her eyes as she watched the sales associate bag up her new clothes. She also got new pyjamas, socks, and underwear. As they left the store, Ashley turned to Karen with a huge smile on her face. "Thank you so much," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I don't know what to say." Karen smiled and hugged Ashley. "You don't have to say anything, sweetie. Just enjoy your new clothes and know that you're loved and taken care of."