When Mia’s stepmother, Trudy, threw herself a lavish 45th birthday bash, she expected everyone especially Mia to cater to her every whim. Even before the party began, Trudy made a not-so-subtle demand for a dishwasher as a gift, claiming she “deserved it” for all she did. Mia, a sixteen-year-old just trying to save for her prom dress, politely declined, explaining she didn’t have the money. That didn’t stop Trudy from publicly humiliating her during the party, forcing her to wash dishes in front of dozens of guests as punishment for not buying the expensive appliance.

Though hurt, Mia swallowed her pride and did the dishes, keeping her head down while fantasizing about someday escaping the chaos. But karma didn’t wait long. The next morning, Trudy’s shrieks echoed through the house as the kitchen flooded due to a botched disposal of meat oil and a reckless dose of drain cleaner. The pipes burst, the floor was soaked, and the fancy new kitchen was destroyed. Trudy, who insisted on treating Mia like a servant, was now stuck with a disaster of her own making.

As repair costs soared, Mia’s dad finally drew the line. He told Trudy that the budget was tight now but not too tight to give his daughter $500 for her prom dress. Trudy fumed, but she couldn’t argue. It was her own carelessness that caused the damage, and her extravagant party had drained the family finances. For the first time in a long while, Mia felt seen and supported by her father.

In the days that followed, something shifted. Trudy began to soften, allowing Mia to get a part-time job and even offering to help her find a prom dress. Whether this change would last remained to be seen. But for once, Mia felt like the universe had her back and that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change for the better.