When Ellie’s father passed away, she braced for sorrow — not betrayal. Just two days after the funeral, her stepmother Cheryl coldly told her to pack up and leave the only home she’d ever known. Heartbroken and shocked, Ellie clutched her duffel bag and wandered into the night. With nowhere else to turn, she called the one person she hoped would care — Aunt Janine.

Cheryl had never hidden her disdain. From the moment she married Ellie’s dad when Ellie was 14, her sweetness was always laced with spite. After his sudden heart attack, Cheryl wasted no time erasing him — throwing out photos, changing the locks, and spitting, “You’re not family anymore.” Ellie stayed at a friend’s, numb with grief and disbelief.