’m 17. My brother, Ethan, is 15.
Our mom died when I was 12. Two years later, Dad remarried Melissa. Last year Dad died suddenly from a heart attack, and everything in our house changed.
Melissa took over everything immediately—the bills, the mail, the accounts. Mom had left money specifically for Ethan and me. Dad always said it was meant for “important things.” School. College. Big life moments.
Apparently Melissa had her own definition of “important.”
Prom came up about a month ago.
She was sitting in the kitchen scrolling through her phone when I said, “Prom is in three weeks. I need a dress.”
She didn’t even look up.
“Prom dresses are a ridiculous waste of money.”
“Mom left money for stuff like this,” I said.
She gave a short, mocking laugh. “Nobody wants to see you prancing around in some overpriced princess costume.”
Then she finally looked at me.
“That money keeps this house running now. And honestly? No one needs to see you in something like that.”
“So there’s money for that?” I asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “Watch your tone.”
“You’re using our money.”
She stood up so quickly her chair scraped the floor. “I’m the one keeping this family afloat. You have no idea how expensive life is.”
“Then why did Dad say the money was ours?”
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