I grew up in the shadows of my half-sister Alice, always treated like Cinderella while she got everything. At 18, I finally had enough. I found my grandmother Amanda’s will revealing that she left me $2 million, which my parents had stolen, using my inheritance as their own.

Determined to seek justice, I discovered the will had been destroyed by Alice when she found it in the bathroom. With no direct proof, I sought a lawyer but was told it would be difficult to proceed without the original document. Desperate, I confided in my friend Mike, who suggested confronting my parents.

When I confronted them, they dismissed my claims, knowing I lacked evidence. “Get out of my house!” my mother yelled. Determined to reclaim what was mine, I devised a plan with Mike to set up an underground poker game to trap my stepfather Simon, who was living off my inheritance.

We turned a basement into a poker den, lured Simon with fake money, and used hidden cameras to rig the game. Simon, confident and greedy, lost everything by betting his car and possessions. When he was broke, he suffered a heart attack and fell into a coma.

Feeling conflicted, I returned to the house to find my mother and Alice crying, unable to pay for Simon’s treatment. Despite their past cruelty, I decided to help. I secretly left $200,000 under a floorboard in the pantry, hinting to my mother about the money.

Walking away from the house, I felt a sense of closure. I chose compassion over revenge and looked forward to a fresh start, free from the shadows of my past.