When my mom passed away, she left me her cherished lake house — a peaceful sanctuary filled with our memories. I kept it sacred, visiting only on special occasions, especially on the anniversary of her death. My dad remarried quickly to Carla, a woman who constantly insulted my mom in subtle ways and replaced everything she had created. I made it clear that the lake house was off-limits, but Carla never respected boundaries.

On the fifth anniversary of my mom’s passing, I arrived at the lake house to find loud music, strange cars, and Carla throwing a wild party with her friends. They mocked my mom’s art and used her handmade pillow as a footrest. Furious, I left unnoticed and later discovered Carla had stolen my key while I was away. She didn’t even deny it, brushing me off as “too dramatic.”

What she didn’t know was that the house had security cameras. With help from my lawyer, I gathered video, audio, and even text messages where Carla joked about her “hippie hut” party. In court, the evidence was overwhelming. Carla was charged with trespassing, theft, and property damage. Her own lawyer dropped her when he learned who my mother was and how she had once helped his family.

Carla moved out two months later after my dad saw the truth. I upgraded the lake house’s security and kept it as my private retreat. Karma handled Carla better than I ever could, and my mom’s sacred space remained safe — a lasting tribute to her memory and love.