We came home from the park to find our belongings scattered across the porch — toys, clothes, even my prenatal vitamins. My stepmother had locked us out of the house my mom left me, and what she did next left me speechless.

I’m Rachel, 34, married to Daniel with two kids and another on the way. After my mom passed when I was 14, she left me our family home. My dad promised to care for it until I was older, but when he remarried Linda, everything changed. She slowly erased my mom’s presence, and when Daniel lost his job, we moved back in out of desperation.

Linda was cold and critical, especially toward my kids. When she learned I was pregnant, she was openly unhappy. While my dad was away on a business trip, we went to the park. When we came back, all our things were thrown outside, and the locks had been changed. Linda told me on the phone, “This is my house now. Leave.”

With nowhere else to go, I called my Aunt Margaret, who welcomed us immediately. Three days later, Dad returned and was furious when he learned the truth. He confronted Linda, declaring the house was mine and she had no right to throw us out. That night, Linda packed her bags and left for good.

Soon after, Daniel got a new job, and we rented a small apartment while Dad and I began restoring the house. A few months later, I gave birth to our third child, Ian, with Dad by my side.

Linda never apologized, but I realized I didn’t need her to. I have my husband, my children, my dad, and my aunt — my real family. And now, step by step, we’re building a home filled with love again.