When my mom passed away two years ago, my world busted into a million pieces. I lived with my Aunt Cheryl. Cheryl swept in quickly, almost too quickly, offering to “graciously” take me in, but she had ulterior motives.
“You’re family, Jenna,” she said.
“And family takes care of their own.”
At first, I thought I was lucky. Aunt Cheryl and her family had a big, beautiful house, and I thought I’d finally have some stability after all the chaos. But I was naive. I didn’t know the truth then—that my aunt didn’t take me in out of love.
She brought me in for something far darker.
My aunt had three children: Maddie, the “perfect” seventeen-year-old; Dylan, the thirteen-year-old prankster; and Lucas, the nine-year-old whiny. They started living in luxury when I arrived.
“Why can’t I stay in the guest room downstairs?” I asked on my first night.
“Don’t start, Jenna. We don’t have the space. You should be grateful I’m taking you in.”
Grateful? Every meal was a leftover plate I was expected to microwave myself!
One afternoon, this was my birthday. I’d stopped hoping for much when my special day came around, but part of me still wished that my aunt might at least acknowledge it. Instead, I came downstairs to Maddie unwrapping a sleek, silver MacBook!
“Oh my gosh! Thank you so much, Mom!” Maddie squealed, hugging Cheryl.
I cleared my throat. “Isn’t today my birthday?”
My aunt barely looked up. “Maddie needed this for school. It’s important, plus you’re not even in advanced classes.”
“But…” I felt my voice crack. “What about me?”
Cheryl’s cold eyes locked onto me. “You think I don’t do enough for you? Be grateful I even remembered, Jenna! You get food and a roof over your head!”
That cold woman and her spoiled children didn’t even wish me a happy birthday.
Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
My stomach twisted nervously as I opened the door.
A woman stood tall and confident, with piercing gray eyes and a briefcase in one hand. “Are you Jenna?” she inquired.
I nodded cautiously. “Who are you?”
“My name is Olivia,” she said.
“I worked with your mother long before she passed.”
My heart skipped. “You knew my mom?”
“Yes,”
“And I promised her something. Can we sit down? I need to tell you a few things.”
“Your mother left you a trust fund, Jenna,” she began.
“A significant amount of money for your future. But she was concerned. She didn’t trust Cheryl to handle it knowing the type of sister she is. Before your mom passed, she asked me to keep an eye on things.”
“What are you saying?”
“Your aunt has been spending your money, Jenna. The trust was meant for you—for college, for your life. But Cheryl’s been using it to fund her lifestyle.”
My mind reeled. My aunt had been stealing from me? For years?! So, instead of saving it for my future, she blew it on her children, cars, private school, and exotic vacations.
Olivia stood up calmly as Cheryl stormed in, Maddie, Dylan, and Lucas trailing behind her. Then my aunt froze when she saw Olivia. She’d clearly recognized her.
“It’s time for you to pay for what you did, Cheryl,” Olivia said sharply. “I’m here to talk about Jenna’s inheritance—and how you’ve been spending it.”
My aunt’s face went pale as a ghost. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Maddie burst into tears. “Mom, what’s happening? Are we going to lose everything?”
My aunt turned on me, wild-eyed. “This is your fault! If you weren’t so selfish—”
“My fault?” I shouted. “YOU stole from ME!”
The room felt like it was on fire, everyone shouting at once and Cheryl’s children crying—until Olivia’s firm voice cut through the chaos. “Cheryl, I suggest you sit down. You’re going to need a lawyer.”
On my 18th birthday, Olivia sat across from me, a stack of papers in between us. “Jenna, the remaining funds are finally yours.”
Tears stung my eyes as I signed the last form. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Olivia smiled warmly. “Your mom would be so proud of you.”
That night, I sat on the porch of my foster family’s home, staring at the stars. For the first time in a long time, I felt my mom’s presence. I imagined her whispering, You made it, Jenna. You’re free.
