“Stacy, honey, when did you get back? You
should have told me so your dad and I could have picked you up.
“Hold up! No need to play family. I’m here to
claim my dad’s remains. Oh, and…” I covered
my mouth, giggling. “Your wedding with my
dad is next week, right? Better tell everyone
the groom’s MIA. Otherwise, you’re gonna
look crazy.”
Karen’s mask slipped, replaced by a sneer.
“Even if you don’t like me, Stacy, your
shouldn’t curse your father. He was good to
you.”
He was great.
He ruined my mom for some fling with her.
He kicked me out of the house for a leech of
a girl.
What a freaking saint!
<
“Don’t believe me?” I scoffed. “Of course, you
and my dad didn’t even get married. That’s
why the hospital couldn’t reach you. So I, the
kid, had to handle these grown–up things
myself.”
I pulled out Dad’s death certificate and
shoved it in their faces.
Karen turned pale and could barely stand.
Brittany held her up.
“Brittany,” I said, looking at her. “I’m selling
your house. You have a week to move out, or
I’m calling the cops.”
“Oh, Karen, you’ll have to move out of the
mansion too. But you’ve lived there for so
long, you must have a lot of stuff. Don’t
worry I’ll help you find a moving company.
And those jewelry sets my dad gave you? No
need to return them. Consider it
compensation for being a nameless, faceless.
girlfriend.”
With that, I put on my sunglasses and walked
away without a shred of emotion.
I heard Brittany scream and Karen collapse.
The next day, I went to the bank.
Dad was way too cautious. He kept his
valuables in a safety deposit box instead of
the house.
Otherwise, Karen would’ve taken them
already.
I grinned at the gold bars and antiques.
く
After some paperwork, everything was mine.
I celebrated with a fancy lunch at a five–star
restaurant.
Full and happy, I went home for a beauty
sleep.
But as I drove into the gated community,
security stopped me.
The guard pulled me aside, whispering.
“Ms. Stacy, your stepmom–to–be is here.”
Karen was my stepmom–to–be?
Then I knew he meant Karen.
That year, Dad kicked sick me out of the
<
house for her. The whole neighborhood knew
about it. People would show up just to yell at
Karen.
That’s why they never lived here when Mom
died.
“She’s with some older lady, says it’s your
aunt. I didn’t want to let them in, but the
captain…”
Karen must’ve pulled some strings.
I smiled sweetly and said, “Thanks, I
appreciate it.”
“They looked mad as hell and already entered
the code. Be careful.”
The guard was worried.
く
I thanked him again, noticed his taser, and
got an idea.
I said, “Can I buy that taser from you?”
Before going inside, I checked the security
cameras.
Karen, Brittany, and some older lady were in
the living room. The older woman was
admiring my decorations and slipped a small
antique into her purse.
I saved the footage.
Then, I put on my mean face, punched in the
code, and stormed in with the taser.
“Ah! Thieves! Get out! I’m gonna get you!”
く
I closed my eyes and swung the taser like a
mad woman.
I heard shrieks, and then a woman’s voice
said, “Stacy! Are you doing this on purpose?
Look who you’re hitting!”
I swung a few more times before stopping.
I looked shocked. “Aunt Susan? What are you
doing here?”
Her face was red, and there were blue marks
on her face. She glared at me.
“You little brat. How dare you hit your elders?
You’ll be punished!”
I played innocent. “Aunt Susan, no need to
shout. But you came without telling me. I
thought someone was stealing my antiques. I
wouldn’t even know they were missing.”
Aunt Susan moved her purse behind her.
She cleared her throat, “Your dad died, and
we need to sort out his affairs. You can’t just
hoard everything for yourself. You have to
give money to Karen.”
“Why?” I said. “Karen didn’t marry my dad.”
I already made sure with Dad’s lawyer.
They wanted to sign the papers a day after
he passed.
What a shame.
“But she was supposed to marry him.” Aunt
く
“Doesn’t count. Legally, I’m the sole heir.”
My words must’ve hit a nerve because her
face went red.
Karen played nice. “Honey, I don’t want to
fight over the inheritance, but the truth is…”
She touched her stomach but stopped.
I finished, “Spit it out already.”
Brittany piped up. “Can’t you see? Mom’s
having your dad’s kid. Even if you don’t share
with her, the kid can inherit.”
