**Chapter 11: The Girls Return**

Just as Dorothy and Stan were starting to relax, they heard the sound of the front door opening. Rose, Blanche, and Sophia walked in, chattering excitedly about their shopping trip. However, their cheerful banter came to an abrupt halt as they noticed the somber expressions on Dorothy and Stan's faces. "What's wrong?" Rose asked, her brow furrowed with concern. She set down the bags she was carrying and walked over to Dorothy, her eyes scanning her face for signs of distress. Dorothy forced a smile, trying to reassure her friends that everything was okay. "Nothing, dear. Just a little disagreement with Lucas," she said, her voice a bit shaky. Sophia's eyes narrowed. "That no-good ex-husband of yours," she muttered. She shook her head, her expression disapproving. "What did he do now?" Stan stepped in, his voice calm and authoritative. "It's okay, everyone. I'm just glad I was here to intervene. Lucas can be a bit of a bully, but I wasn't about to let him get away with it." He wrapped his arm around Dorothy's shoulders, pulling her close. Blanche raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What happened?" She walked over to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine as she waited for Stan to fill them in. Stan took a deep breath, summarizing the confrontation with Lucas. The girls listened with rapt attention, their faces growing increasingly concerned as Stan spoke. Rose's eyes widened in shock, while Sophia's expression turned stern. "I'm so sorry, Dorothy," Rose said, her voice filled with empathy. She walked over to Dorothy and gave her a hug. "You don't deserve to be treated like that." Sophia snorted. "Deserve? Fuhgeddaboutit. That Lucas is a piece of work. I'll give him a piece of my mind if he ever shows his face around here again." She shook her head, her expression disapproving. Blanche nodded in agreement. "We should all keep a close eye on Dorothy, make sure she's okay. And if Lucas shows up again, we'll be ready for him." She set her glass down, her eyes locked on Dorothy's face. As the girls rallied around Dorothy, offering words of comfort and support, she felt a sense of gratitude towards them. She knew that she was lucky to have such caring friends in her life. Stan watched the scene with a warm heart, feeling happy to see Dorothy surrounded by people who cared about her. He knew that he would do anything to protect her, and he was glad that her friends felt the same way. The group chatted for a while, discussing the best ways to handle Lucas and how to support Dorothy through this difficult time. As they talked, Dorothy felt a sense of security wash over her, knowing that she had a strong support system in place. With her friends by her side, she knew that she could face anything that came her way. And as they all hugged, a sense of peace settled over the group, they knew that they would get through this together.