Giving him a fake smile
I decided to stay calm when my stepdad demanded rent on my birthday. Instead of reacting with anger or frustration, I took a deep breath and nodded. “
Give me a few days to gather the money,” I said. This response seemed to appease him for the moment, and he left the room with his usual smug expression.
Staying calm gave me the time I needed to refine my plan without raising any suspicion.