When I was eight, my father told me my mother had died after a hospital stay. He moved us to a new town, claiming we needed a fresh start, but shortly after, he introduced Erika, his mistress, who became his wife. Erika despised me and made my life miserable, while my father ignored her cruelty.
At 17, after a fight with Erika, I fled with my mother’s photo and returned to our old town. There, I met a homeless woman who turned out to be my mother. She revealed my father had lied about her death, stolen her money, and gained custody through manipulation.
I helped my mom escape homelessness, and we built a life together. I changed my last name to her maiden name, cutting ties with my father.
