I walked inside the house and Theresa and Victoria was waiting for me. Theresa said, "Where were you? Do you realize that this house is a sty?"

I said, "You know what? If you want to clean something, learn to do it yourself."

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"You heard me. I quit. I'm moving out of this house." I told her.

"Where are you going to live?" Victoria said.

"With Ian, my best friend. And while I'm at it, you can mess with this house and my father's record company, but you're never messing with me again." I explained.

-TIME SKIP-

I moved the last box of my things into the van that Ian borrowed. Before I got in the van, Theresa said, "You can't leave me and your sister here!"

"Sorry, Theresa. I'm not living with you anymore." I replied.

She was erratic at this point. I stepped in the van and Ian drove off. I said, "I feel like a load has been lifted."

"I'm sure, compared to those two." Ian replied.

I was silent for a moment, then I told Ian, "I wonder if my dad was aware of any of this."

"Aware of what? Your stepmother being a tyrant?" Ian asked.

"Yeah. I don't think he really would want me to be a part of something I never wanted." I explained.

"For once, you say something I can agree with." Ian exclaimed, not taking his eyes off the road.

We reached his house and his dad was there to greet us, "Ah, Elisa! Haven't seen you in a while."

"Well, consider her an official part of the family now. She dumped her family." Ian explained.

Mr. Rankin was silent, then he said, "You left them?"

"Yes, I did. They pushed me around for too long. I had to leave." I told him.

He smiled, "I always knew this day was coming."

I was confused. Ian ushered me into the house and his cousins were carrying my things in. Ian asked, "Dad, what do you mean by 'this day'?"

Mr. Rankin handed me an envelope. I opened it. It was my dad's will. The house, the cars, the record company, it all goes to me when I turned 18 and I already had my 18th birthday. Theresa's signature was there as well. Ian said, "Dad, you had this all this time. Why didn't you say anything?"

"Your father was well aware of what your stepmother's true nature. That's why he entrusted me with this before he died. He told me to hold on to this until you were ready. I believe you are." Mr. Rankin explained to me.

Ian said, "Well, apparently your dad was looking out for you from beyond the grave, Elisa."

I smiled, "Thank you, Dad."