A year after my mother passed, I came home to find my bags by the door—and a stranger draped in my late mother’s robe, lounging in my living room. Rick’s new girlfriend smirked and told me I had to leave. But she had no idea who truly owned this house.

I lost my mom when I was just 18. Before she passed, she made one final request: Don’t kick Rick out right away. Give him some time. Even though they had broken up, he had been there to help, and she wanted to be kind.

I respected her last wish.

Today, after spending a month away preparing for college, I came back—to find my belongings packed and stacked by the door.

Shock froze me in place. My heart pounded. Then I saw her—a woman, comfortably seated in my living room, wrapped in my mother’s robe.

Vanessa. Rick’s new girlfriend.

She gave me a once-over, then smirked. “Oh, so you’re the girl Rick’s been letting crash here. Well, it’s time to move on. A lawyer will be here soon to explain everything.”

My fists tightened, but I kept my voice even.

“Then I’ll wait.”

For an hour, I sat silently, enduring their smug comments and satisfied glances.

And then… the lawyer knocked.