Inviting Stephanie to lunch was a strategic move. I could see her mind working, calculating how she might still benefit from whatever David had left me. Her smile was a veneer hiding a viper’s cunning, but she didn’t yet know the full story. When I laid the truth before her, she was visibly shaken. The tables had turned, and it was my turn to stand with dignity.

“You mean the $40,000?” I asked, feigning innocence. Her eyes betrayed her greed.

Stephanie’s façade crumbled when I showed her the account balance. Her skin paled, and for a moment, she looked as if she might faint again. This wasn’t part of her plan. It was a moment of justice, a vindication for the kindness and sacrifice I had shown my son.