Nathan, 46, has raised his daughter Emily alone since her mother died. Five years ago, he married Tamara, who has a daughter, Zoe. He worked hard to treat both girls fairly — family dinners, shared vacations, and separate college funds. Emily’s fund was built over years of sacrifice; Zoe’s was newer but growing.
Two weeks ago, after Emily turned 18, Nathan checked her college account during a routine review. He expected reassurance that his hard work had paid off.
Instead, he found $10,000 missing.
At first, he thought it was a mistake. But deep down, he feared it was something far worse — a betrayal that would force him to choose between keeping the peace and standing up for his daughter.