My Late Mom’s Trust Fund Was Misused by Dad for His Stepdaughter — I Decided to Fight Back

When my mother passed away from cancer, she left me with memories and a lifeline: a trust fund intended for my future. She was everything to me. It seemed like my dad was destroying Mom’s memory piece by piece when he began using it for his stepdaughter out of greed. What remained of her and me could not be allowed to be taken by him.

When someone you love passes away, you always feel the effects of their loss, even if they aren’t visible. When I was ten, my mother passed away from breast cancer. She was there one day, humming an old rock song and combing my hair, and then she was gone. As simple as that.

It seems like yesterday when I think back on our last discussion. Her fingers were feebly stroking my hair as she sat on her hospital bed.

With a whisper, “Promise me something, baby girl,” she said.

I said, “Anything, Mom,” while attempting to contain my tears.

“Assure me that no one will ever be able to dim your brightness. Iris, you are truly unique. So very, very special.

She left me only a few pictures, a trust money she established for me before she died, and the lingering scent of her favorite vanilla perfume on her scarves.

“This is for Iris,” she had informed my grandparents and father. “For her future and education. Assure me that she will always possess it.

They pledged. My father also made a vow. However, without someone to hold you to them, promises mean little.

Two years later, my dad got married again. Marianne, his new wife, had a daughter named Emily who was twelve years old.

At first, I didn’t mind. With Mom gone, I reasoned that perhaps a new chapter was ahead.

However, I soon discovered that in our home, Emily would come first, followed by Marianne, Dad, then me. Not even in the photo!

It began modestly. Our shower and refrigerator once broke simultaneously. In order to fix them, Dad stole money out of the trust fund without my consent.

He said, “I’ll pay it back,” as if it were insignificant. He got Emily a MacBook for her birthday a week later. On mine? A gift card worth $100.

Promotion
The message was more important than the money.

He continued to deplete the fund throughout the years for home improvements, auto maintenance, and other expenses unrelated to me. “It’s just temporary,” he would never stop saying. However, the “temporary” justifications became stale as the withdrawals continued to mount.

Due to my scholarship, I didn’t need the money for tuition by the time I arrived at college. But it didn’t stop him from figuring out new applications for it. He dismissed me each time I brought it up. “Iris, try not to worry. It’s secure.

Safe, huh?

“You understand, don’t you, Iris?” When something I needed was put aside for Emily, he would always say that. Something new for her pageant? Yes. My trip? Next year, perhaps. I swallowed it even though it hurt.

However, swallowing became more difficult.

The day I discovered how much of Mom’s trust fund was gone is one I’ll never forget. One night in my last year of college, it was late. I had heard Emily discussing with her friends how “Daddy” was paying for her new car. The concept of the fund made my stomach turn.

“Can you believe it?” Squealing through the flimsy walls was Emily. “A brand-new BMW! “I deserve it for reaching nationals,” remarked Daddy.

As I sat at my desk with my hands shaking, I could still hear Mom say, “This is for Iris.” for her future.

Years had passed since I last saw the account. I was advised by my father not to “stress over it.” However, I decided to investigate it because something felt strange.

My heart fell when I logged onto the account. The figures were illogical. There were thousands missing. costs for pageants. a water heater. Emily’s vehicle. Each withdrawal felt like a stomach punch.

My hands were shaking by the time I shut down my laptop. It was more than just money. It belonged to Mom. Dad had spent it as if it were his own wallet, and she had trusted him to keep it safe.

The following morning, I gave my grandmother a call.

She said, “Sweetheart,” after I had told her everything. “Enough is enough of this. You need to confront him.

“I can’t breathe, Grandma,” I wailed into the phone. He seems to be eliminating Mom one bit at a time. As if he were deleting ME.

Whispering, “Oh, my sweet girl,” she said. “Your mom would be incensed at the moment. She put up a fierce fight to ensure your well-being.

I sobbed, my throat constricted, “I know,” “When he promised to return the money, I believed him. However, he has merely been squandering Mom’s hard-earned cash.

Grandma went on to say, “Your mother was a fighter,” “You are, too. It’s time to demonstrate that to them.

With a heavy heart, I answered, “I will when the right time comes,” and hung up.

A week later, it all came to a head. After four years of missing printer deadlines and sleepless nights, I was finally ready to celebrate graduation. I informed my father over the phone that I would be graduating on December 20th. Long enough for my stomach to drop, I could hear the pause on the other end of the call.

“Oh, December 20th?” he finally said. “Emily’s pageant is at that time. We have plans already.

“You’re missing my graduation for a pageant?”

“Come on, Iris. It’s not a huge deal to graduate. There will be more of those for you. However, this pageant? She has the opportunity to shine.

It wasn’t until my fingers began to hurt that I realized how tightly I was holding my phone. “You’re kidding, right?”

From the background, I heard Marianne add something, her voice brimming with contempt. “Iris, don’t be self-centered. Graduations occur frequently. One-of-a-kind is Emily’s pageant.

“Selfish?” I spit. “This isn’t about selfishness, Dad. It has to do with you choose Emily over me. Once more.

He said, “That’s not fair —”

“Unfair? Do you wish to discuss fairness? How recently did you pick me? How recently did you even see me?

“Of course I see you, Iris.”

“No, you DON’T!” Like a dam bursting, the words poured out of me. “Emily is seen. You witness everything she does, including pageants and dancing recitals. But me? I am merely the specter in the corner. You don’t know what to do with Mom’s leftover.

“Iris, that’s enough!”

“No, it’s insufficient! It has never been sufficient. Years of pain spilled out of me as I sobbed. “Are you aware of what Mom said to me last? She forced me to swear that no one could ever take away my light. However, Dad, you’ve been doing just that for years. Years!”

He let out a sigh as if I were being crazy. “We’ll celebrate when we’re back. I promise.”

The word “promise” struck me hard. Whispering, “Your promises don’t mean anything anymore,” “They haven’t since Mom died.”

Without saying good-bye, I hung up. At least my grandparents attended my graduation. The day felt a bit less lonely when I saw their proud expressions in the crowd. They reminded me that someone still cared by giving me such a tight hug afterwards. Despite my happiness, I had one more task to complete.

I brought the account statements into Dad’s office the following day. Despite the fact that my stomach was roiling, I persisted.

I said, “We need to talk,” as I placed the papers on his desk and closed the door.

Dad frowned as he looked up from his computer. “What’s this?”

“The statement of the trust fund. Mom’s trust fund. The one you have spent years draining.”

He tried to hide the fact that his face was pale. Come on, Iris. I have spent all of my money on the family. It has never been needed by you. You were awarded a scholarship.

I interrupted, “That money wasn’t for the family,” “It was for ME. For MY future. And you bought Emily with it. Don’t even try to refute it. The statements don’t lie.”

“You don’t understand what it’s like,” he stood up, his voice rising. “Being a father, trying to blend two families —”

“And you don’t understand what it’s like watching your father erase every trace of your mother!” I fired back. “That money was the last thing she could give me, and you treated it like your personal ATM!”

His jaw tensed as he reclined in his chair. “I did what I had to do.”

“No,” I responded, refusing to back down. “What was convenient for you is what you did. You’re going to repay it immediately. Every cent.”

He laughed bitterly. “And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll sue you.”

There was silence in the room. I saw genuine dread in his eyes for the first time in my life.

He answered, “You wouldn’t,” at last.

“Mom always said I had her backbone,” I cut back. “Maybe it’s time you remembered that.”

As I had anticipated, the fallout was a complete catastrophe. I was yelled at over the phone by my stepmother and stepsister. “How could you do this, Iris?” Marianne’s harsh cry sounded as if I had set fire to their home.

“Do what?” I murmured as I tightened my hold on my phone. “Take a stand for yourself? Demand from you people the respect I’ve never received.”

She scolded, “Don’t make this about you,” Because we couldn’t be in two places at once, you’re punishing us. You are aware of Emily’s deep emotional attachment to her pageant.

I retorted, “And my graduation didn’t mean anything to you,” “Marianne, I’ve had enough. I’m finished.

“You dare? following all that we have done for you?”

“Done for me?” I gave a halting laugh. “What exactly have you done except try to replace everything about Mom?”

“I tried to be a mother to you!”

“No,” I yelled. “You attempted to destroy my mom. There is a distinction.

I was labeled a “selfish” brat by her. I didn’t give up, though.

She and Dad have nothing to stand on under U.S. law. By the time I turned over the legal documents, which my grandparents had helped me draft, Dad realized he had no choice.

The funds returned to my account after a month. I didn’t care that they had borrowed money to do it. The following week, I left and briefly lived in with my grandparents. For once, it was nice to be in a warm, secure place.

“You’ve always been stronger than you think, Iris,” Grandma remarked to us one evening when we were sitting on the porch. Her cardigan, which smelled like Mom’s vanilla perfume, was draped over my shoulders.

As I gazed at the stars, I confessed, “I didn’t feel strong,” “I just felt angry.”

“Anger is sometimes what we need to get moving,” she smiled. “You know, your mother was aware that this may occur. She made us swear to protect you because of this.

“She did?”

“Yes, exactly. “My Iris may bend, but she will never break,” she added. Sweetheart, she knew exactly who you were.

The following day, I gave her a check for some of the money that had been reimbursed. I persisted even though she attempted to decline. “No one has ever done more for me than you and Grandpa. Please. Let me take care of this.

She gave me such a strong hug that I felt like I would crack. “You have our utmost pride. Additionally, your mother would be ecstatic.

I bought my own apartment and went to graduate school with the remaining funds. It was mine, even though it wasn’t fancy.

While unpacking some boxes one evening, I stumbled upon an old picture of Mom and me. Her grin was warm and gentle as she held me on her lap.

“I did it, Mom,” I muttered as I touched the picture. “I fulfilled my commitment. I refused to allow them to dim my light.

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A message from Dad buzzed through my phone. I didn’t open it, though.

I texted Grandma instead, saying, “I think I’m finally free.”

She responded right away: “You are, my love. Yes, you are. Right now, your mother is most likely dancing in heaven.

I put down the phone and grinned, my eyes hazy. I felt like I was truly living for myself for the first time in years. I’m being intelligent and fearless, just like my mother always wanted me to be.