When Iris lost her mom to cancer at ten, all she had left were memories, a promise—and a trust fund her mom set up to secure her
future. But her dad? He broke that promise. After remarrying, he started using the fund for his new wife and stepdaughter,
Emily. Pageant fees, home repairs, even a BMW—while Iris got excuses and a $100 birthday card.By college,
Iris had a scholarship, but that didn’t stop her dad from draining what was left. The final straw? He chose Emily’s pageant
over attending Iris’s graduation. Fueled by grief and rage, Iris checked the trust fund and saw the damage. With her grandparents’ support,
she confronted her dad and demanded every penny back—or she’d sue. Faced with legal action, he returned the money. Iris moved in with her grandparents,
finally felt safe, and used the fund to start grad school—on her terms. She found strength in her mother’s
last words: “Never let anyone dim your light.” And she didn’t. She took her life back.
