Chapter 1: The Car They Tried to Take
My stepmother shoved me against the hood of my graduation car. Ten minutes earlier, I had been celebrating the happiest day of my life. Now, she was stealing my keys, my diploma, and the one gift my father had promised would always be mine.
But when Dad finally arrived home and opened the glove compartment, he discovered something that made him look at his wife like he had never known her.
“Stop pretending this car belongs to you, Maya!””
Vanessa's fingers dug into my shoulders.
The silver SUV's hood was still warm from the afternoon sun. My palms pressed against the metal, and my rolled diploma nearly slipped from my other hand.
“Vanessa, you're hurting me.””
“Then stop making this difficult.””
I turned my head toward the mansion.
Our mansion.
At least, that was what I had called it for the past seven years.
White columns framed the entrance. Pink graduation balloons floated beside the front door. My name was printed across a banner hanging above the garage.
CONGRATULATIONS, MAYA!
The irony was almost unbearable.
I had just graduated at the top of my class, earned a scholarship to a prestigious university, and received my first car from my father.
Yet I was standing in my own driveway, being treated like a thief.
“Give me the keys,” Vanessa demanded.
I looked at her.
“Dad bought this car for me.””
She laughed.
It wasn't a nervous laugh. It wasn't even an embarrassed one.
It was the laugh of someone who believed she could do whatever she wanted.
“You think finishing high school makes you entitled to a luxury SUV?””
“I'm not saying that. I'm saying it's mine.””
“Millions of children graduate every year. They don't all get expensive cars.””
Behind her, Caleb leaned against the driver's door.
My twenty-two-year-old stepbrother wore a designer tracksuit, expensive sneakers, and a gold chain that probably cost more than my entire college application process.
He already owned a red sports coupe.
Dad had helped him finance it two years earlier after Vanessa convinced him that Caleb was finally ready to become responsible.
Caleb had missed three payments.
Dad had covered every single one.
He had also paid the insurance, repairs, and registration.
Apparently, responsibility was something Caleb could postpone indefinitely.
“Mom,” Caleb said, looking at my SUV, “are we doing this or what?””
Vanessa held out her hand.
“Give me the key fob, Maya.””
“No.””
Her eyebrows lifted.
“What did you just say?””
I swallowed.
“I said no.””
She stepped closer.
“You live under this roof because my husband allows it. Don't forget that.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
My mother had died when I was eleven. After that, Dad worked constantly, trying to keep his business alive while raising me alone.
When he married Vanessa seven years later, I had desperately wanted to believe I was getting another family.
Instead, I learned to make myself smaller.
I stopped asking for things.
I stopped complaining.
I even took weekend shifts at a grocery store to pay for my own clothes because Vanessa insisted that Dad was already spending too much on me.
And now, on the day I graduated, she was taking the one thing he had specifically chosen for me.
Caleb walked toward me.
“Just give it up, Maya. You don't even know how to drive something this nice.””
“I passed my driving test two years ago.””
“Congratulations. Do you want another diploma?””
He laughed at his own joke.
Vanessa snatched the key fob from my hand.
“Caleb needs a reliable vehicle for work.””
I stared at her.
“What work?””
His smile faded slightly.
“Business stuff.””
“What business?””
“Things adults do.””
“Then why is Dad paying for your rent, your car, and your credit card?””
Caleb pushed away from the SUV.
“Watch your mouth.””
Vanessa immediately stepped between us.
“Don't speak to your brother like that!””
“He's not my brother.””
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Her face hardened.
Then she grabbed my diploma.
“Maybe this little piece of paper has made you think you're better than everyone else.””
“Give it back.””
She lifted it above her head.
“Say please.””
My eyes burned.
“Vanessa, please.””
She smiled and dropped the diploma onto the driveway.
The paper rolled toward the front tire.
I stared at it.
Something inside me cracked.
Caleb pressed the unlock button on my SUV.
Two cheerful beeps sounded through the driveway.
“Looks like I'm driving this beauty tonight,” he said.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You can't do this. The car is registered in my name.””
Her smile disappeared for half a second.
Then she recovered.
“Your father and I can make whatever arrangements we need to make.””
“It's my car.””
“Not anymore.””
I bent to retrieve my diploma.
That's when I heard a familiar voice.
“Put the keys down, Caleb.””
All three of us turned.
Dad stood beside the front gate.
Marcus Bennett.
Still wearing his navy business suit, with his overnight bag hanging from one shoulder. His flight had apparently landed earlier than expected.
He looked at my face.
Then at the diploma on the driveway.
Then at the red marks on my shoulders.
His expression changed.
“What's going on?””
Vanessa immediately approached him.
“Marcus! You're home!””
She reached for his arm.
He didn't take her hand.
“Why is Maya crying?””
Vanessa gave a small laugh.
“Oh, you know how emotional graduation days can be. We're just sorting out the car situation.””
Dad looked at Caleb.
“What car situation?””
Caleb jingled the keys.
“Mom thought I could use the SUV. My car has been acting up.””
Dad stared at him.
“Your car is in the garage.””
“Yeah, but—”
“Is it broken?””
Caleb hesitated.
“No.””
“Then why are you holding your sister's keys?””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus, please. We discussed helping Caleb with his business. Maya doesn't need an expensive SUV.
She'll be at college soon. She can take public transportation.””
Dad slowly turned toward her.
“You discussed it with whom?””
“With you.””
“When?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Dad reached toward Caleb.
“Keys.””
Caleb tried to smile.
“Come on, man. It's not a big deal.””
“I'm not asking twice.””
The keys landed in Dad's palm.
He turned and placed them in my hand.
“Happy graduation, sweetheart.””
I couldn't hold it anymore.
I stepped into his arms, pressing my face against his suit.
He held me tightly.
“I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier.””
“You came,” I whispered.
He kissed my forehead.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“I bought this car for Maya. The registration is in her name. Nobody gets to take it from her.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I am your wife, Marcus. I should have a say in family decisions.””
“You do. But stealing your stepdaughter's graduation gift isn't a family decision.””
Her cheeks flushed.
Caleb muttered something under his breath.
Dad ignored him.
I thought the argument was over.
Then I remembered the envelope.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“There's something else.””
Vanessa went completely still.
I noticed it immediately.
Her fingers tightened around her purse.
“What something else?”” Dad asked.
I glanced toward the SUV.
“Yesterday, I found an envelope in the glove compartment. It had some papers inside. Vanessa saw me looking at them.””
Dad frowned.
“What papers?””
“She told me not to tell you.””
Vanessa rushed forward.
“Maya, that's enough.””
Dad turned.
“Why?””
“Because she's confused. She doesn't understand what she found.””
“Then explain it.””
Vanessa's lips parted.
She said nothing.
Dad walked toward the driver's door.
Vanessa followed him.
“Marcus, please. We can talk about this inside.””
He stopped.
“Why not here?””
“Because it's private.””
“What's private about a glove compartment?””
He pulled the handle.
The door swung open.
Inside were the vehicle manual, insurance documents, and a thick cream-colored envelope.
Dad picked it up.
The envelope had his name written across the front.
Not his business address.
Not his office.
His full legal name.
In handwriting I recognized immediately.
Vanessa's.
He opened it.
The first document was a vehicle title transfer form.
The second was a notarized power of attorney.
The third was a bank document bearing a signature that looked almost identical to his.
Dad read the first page.
Then the second.
His face became completely expressionless.
“Vanessa.””
She took a step backward.
“Marcus, let me explain.””
He held up the notarized document.
“Why does this paper say I authorized you to transfer ownership of Maya's vehicle?””
Nobody moved.
Caleb stopped smiling.
Dad looked at the signature again.
May you like
Then he asked the question that made Vanessa's face lose every trace of color.
“Why did you forge my name?””
