A soft knock interrupted my reminiscing. My mother poked her head in, her eyes full of concern. “Charlie, honey, you can’t keep living in the past. It’s been three years. You need to move on. Those girls need a mother figure.” I sighed, setting the photo frame down. “Mom, we’re doing fine. The girls are—””Getting older!” She cut me off, settling beside me on the couch. “I know you’re trying, but you’re not getting any younger. What about that nice woman from your office? Gabriela?”I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “Gaby? Mom, she’s just a coworker.” “And a single mother, just like you’re a single father. Think about it, Charlie. For the girls’ sake.” As she left, her words echoed in my mind. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to move forward. One year later, I stood in our backyard, watching Gaby interact with my daughters. She’d swooped into our lives like a whirlwind, and before I knew it, we were married.It wasn’t the same as with Edith, but it was… nice.”Dad! Watch this!” my youngest called out, attempting a cartwheel. I clapped, forcing a smile. “Great job, sweetie!” Gaby sidled up to me, linking her arm through mine. “They’re wonderful girls, Charlie. You’ve done an amazing job.” I nodded, pushing down the pang of guilt that always surfaced when she complimented my parenting. “Thanks, Gaby. I’m trying my best.” “You’re such a stellar parent. Your kids must be so lucky.”As we headed inside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with the way Gaby had said it. But I pushed it aside, determined to make this new family work. That’s when Gaby cornered me in the kitchen, her eyes gleaming with a look I’d never seen before. “Charlie, we need to talk about the girls’ trust fund,” she said, her voice syrupy sweet. I froze, my coffee mug halfway to my lips. “What trust fund?”Gaby rolled her eyes, dropping the act. “Don’t play dumb. I heard you on the phone with your financial advisor. Edith left quite a nest egg for the girls, didn’t she?”My stomach churned. I’d never mentioned the fund to her. Never thought I’d need to. “That’s for their future, Gaby. College, starting out in life—” “Exactly!” she cut in. “And what about my girls? Don’t they deserve the same opportunities?”I set my mug down, trying to keep my voice level. “Of course they do, but that money… it’s Edith’s legacy to her children.” Gaby’s eyes narrowed. “Her children? We’re supposed to be one family now, Charlie. Or was that all just talk?” “That’s not fair,” I protested. “I’ve treated your daughters like my own since day one.””Treated them like your own? Please. If that were true, you wouldn’t be hoarding that money for just your biological kids.” The room felt like a pressure cooker ready to burst as I stared at Gaby, her words still ringing in my ears.I took a deep breath, fighting to stay calm. “Gaby, that fund is not ours to touch. It’s for my daughters’ future.” “So that’s it? Your dead wife’s wishes matter more than your living family?” “Don’t you dare speak about Edith that way. This discussion ends now. That money is not up for debate. Period.” Gaby’s face flushed with anger. “You’re impossible! How can you be so stubborn?”My jaw tightened, muscles twitching as I fought to maintain control. I barely recognized the woman standing before me, so different from the one I thought I’d married. A plan formed in my mind. “Fine! You’re right. I’ll sort this out tomorrow, okay?” Gaby’s eyes lit up, clearly thinking she’d won. “Really? You mean it?” I nodded.Gaby’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Good. It’s about time you saw reason.” She turned on her heel, marching out of the room. The slam of the door echoed through the house, a punctuation mark to her tantrum. I sank into a chair, running my hands over my face. Gaby had shown her true colors, and now it was time for a hard lesson in respect and the dangers of entitlement.The next morning, I made a show of calling my financial advisor, making sure Gaby could overhear. “Yes, I’d like to set up a new account,” I said loudly. “It’s for my stepdaughters. We’ll fund it from our joint income going forward.”I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me and turned to see Gaby standing in the doorway, her face twisted with surprise and anger. “What are you doing?” she barked as I hung up.”Creating a fund for your daughters, like you wanted. We’ll contribute to it together, from what we earn.” Her eyes narrowed. “And Edith’s money?” “Remains untouched. That’s non-negotiable.” “You think this solves anything? This is a slap in the face!” “No, Gaby. This is me setting boundaries. We build our family’s future together, not by taking what isn’t ours to take.”She jabbed a finger at my chest. “You’re choosing your daughters over us. Admit it!” “I’m choosing to honor Edith’s wishes. And if you can’t respect that, then we have a serious problem.”Gaby’s eyes filled with tears, but I couldn’t tell if they were genuine or manipulative. “I thought we were partners, Charlie. I thought what was yours was mine.” “We are partners, Gaby. But that doesn’t mean erasing the past or disregarding Edith’s legacy.” She turned away, her shoulders shaking. “You’re being so unfair.” As she left the room, I called after her, “Unfair or not. But know this: my decision stands.”The following weeks were filled with icy silences and clipped conversations. Gaby alternated between trying to guilt-trip me and giving me the cold shoulder. But I stood firm, refusing to budge. One evening, as I tucked my daughters into bed, my oldest asked, “Daddy, is everything okay with you and Gaby?” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “We’re working through some grown-up stuff, sweetheart. But don’t worry, okay?” She nodded, but her eyes were worried. “We don’t want you to be sad again, Daddy.”My heart clenched. I pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. “I’m not sad, honey. I promise. Your happiness is what matters most to me.” As I left their room, I found Gaby waiting in the hallway, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. “They’re good kids, Charlie. But my girls deserve just as much.” I sighed, realizing her stance hadn’t changed. “They are good kids. All of them. And they all deserve our support.”She scoffed, shaking her head. “Support? That trust fund would’ve been a REAL support. But you just had to play the hero for your precious Edith, didn’t you?””This isn’t about playing hero. It’s about respect. Respect for Edith’s wishes and for our daughters’ future.” “And what about my daughters’ future? Or does that not matter to you?” I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “We’ve set up a fund for them too. We’re building it together, remember? That’s how we move forward.”She laughed bitterly. “Oh, please. That’s just your way of placating me. It’s not the same and you know it.” Our eyes met, and I saw the storm brewing in hers, just as I knew she saw mine. I realized this battle was far from over. But I also knew I’d never back down.Months passed, and while the arguments became less frequent, the underlying resentment remained. One evening, as I watched all four girls playing in the backyard, Gaby approached me.”They look happy,” she said. I nodded, not taking my eyes off the children. “They do.” She turned to me, her expression hard. “But it could’ve been better for all of them if you’d just listened to me.” I met her gaze steadily. “No, Gaby. It wouldn’t have been better. It would’ve been unfair and disrespectful.” She opened her mouth to argue, but I held up a hand. “This discussion is over. It has been for months.”As she stormed off, a surge of sadness and relief engulfed me. Gaby had shown her true colors, and while it pained me to see our marriage strained, I knew I’d done the right thing. She’d learned quickly that I wasn’t a pushover. If she thought she could waltz into our lives and rewrite the rules for her benefit, she had another thing coming. This was the wake-up call she needed, harsh as it might be.I’d made my stance crystal clear: Edith’s legacy for our children was untouchable. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. And seeing Gaby come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t manipulate or bully me into submission? It was worth every second! As I watched my daughters laugh and play, my heart swelled with a determination to be the best father I could be. I’d protected what mattered most: their future and the memory of their mother. Whatever challenges lay ahead with Gaby, I knew I’d face them head-on, just as I’d done from the start.
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