Chapter 1
My stepmother ripped my Halloween costume out of my hands so hard that one of the purple ribbons tore loose.
"LET GO! Lily deserves it more!"
I stumbled backward, almost falling against the living room table.
"Claire, please!"
My voice cracked.
"That's mine!"
She pulled harder.
I tried to hold on, but she twisted the fabric away from me.
The beautiful purple witch costume my father had bought me was suddenly in her hands.
My eight-year-old stepsister, Lily, stood beside her wearing an almost identical outfit.
She already had everything.
The purple dress.
The glittering black boots.
The pointed hat decorated with silver stars.
Even a matching broom.
I looked at her costume, then at the one Claire had stolen from me.
I couldn't understand.
"But Dad bought that for ME."
Claire rolled her eyes.
"You're thirteen, Maya. You're too old for Halloween anyway."
I felt my face burning.
Behind us, several relatives stood near the kitchen, preparing for our annual Halloween party.
Orange balloons covered the staircase.
Plastic pumpkins sat beside the fireplace.
A huge bowl of candy waited near the front door.
Everything looked perfect.
Except me.
I was standing in an old gray T-shirt and jeans, crying while my stepmother held the one thing I'd been excited about all month.
Lily reached toward the costume.
"Mommy, can I have both?"
Claire smiled immediately.
"Of course, sweetheart."
My stomach dropped.
Both.
Lily already had an expensive costume, but Claire wanted her to have mine too.
I looked toward my father.
Marcus stood near the sofa wearing his navy quarter-zip sweater.
His mouth was slightly open.
For one terrible second, I thought he might stay silent.
That was what usually happened.
Claire would say something cruel.
I would try not to cry.
Dad would tell us to get along.
And later, he'd apologize privately.
But this time, something changed.
"Claire."
His voice was sharp.
"Give it back."
Claire turned toward him.
"What?"
"Give Maya her costume."
She laughed.
"Marcus, don't be ridiculous."
He stepped closer.
"I'm not asking again."
Claire pulled Lily against her side.
"She's eight. Maya can survive without one costume."
I stared at my shoes.
That was always Claire's explanation.
Lily was younger.
Lily needed more attention.
Lily deserved special treatment.
And somehow, that meant I deserved less.
Dad looked at Lily's beautiful outfit.
Then he looked at the costume in Claire's hands.
Finally, he looked at my face.
I tried to wipe away my tears.
Too late.
He'd already seen them.
He walked toward Claire and held out his hand.
"The costume."
She tightened her grip.
"Marcus, you're embarrassing me."
His expression hardened.
"You're embarrassing yourself."
The living room went silent.
My aunt Denise stopped arranging candy bags.
My grandmother lowered her coffee cup.
Even Lily stopped smiling.
Claire stared at Dad as though he'd slapped her.
"Excuse me?"
He reached forward and firmly took the costume from her hands.
Then he turned toward me.
"Maya."
I looked up.
He carefully placed the purple dress in my arms.
"This belongs to you."
My throat tightened.
"Dad..."
He touched my shoulder.
"My daughter doesn't lose something just because you prefer your child."
Claire gasped.
The words seemed to strike her harder than anything else he could have said.
"So now you're choosing her over us?"
Dad turned.
"I'm choosing fairness."
His voice was calm.
But I had never heard him sound so serious.
Claire pointed toward the front door.
"Then maybe Lily and I should leave!"
I immediately felt guilty.
I hated arguments.
I hated being the reason everyone stopped smiling.
And I knew Claire would blame me afterward.
But Dad didn't back down.
He looked at her for several seconds.
Then his expression became strangely quiet.
"Before you leave..."
Claire crossed her arms.
"What now?"
"Give me my credit card."
The room went still.
Claire blinked.
"What?"
"My credit card."
She laughed nervously.
"Marcus, what are you talking about?"
Dad took out his phone.
"I checked the account this morning."
Claire's smile disappeared.
I looked between them.
I didn't understand what money had to do with my costume.
Dad tapped his screen.
"Three hundred and eighty dollars at a costume boutique."
Claire looked away.
"That was for Lily."
"Two hundred and forty dollars at another store."
"She needed accessories."
"Four hundred and ninety dollars for custom shoes."
Claire's voice sharpened.
"So what? You can afford it."
Dad stared at her.
"That's not the point."
He scrolled again.
"Because these purchases weren't all charged to our household account."
I felt a strange tightness in my stomach.
Claire stepped toward him.
"Marcus, stop."
He looked directly at her.
"Some were transferred to Maya's savings account."
My breath caught.
"What?"
Dad turned toward me.
His expression softened.
"Sweetheart, there's something I need to explain."
I shook my head.
"My savings?"
He nodded.
The money my mother had left me.
The money Dad promised would help pay for college.
The account I wasn't allowed to touch without his permission.
I stared at Claire.
"You used my money?"
She immediately looked offended.
"Don't speak to me like that."
Dad stepped between us.
"Answer her."
Claire's face reddened.
"It was only temporary!"
My heart started pounding.
I looked down at the costume in my arms.
Suddenly, the purple fabric felt heavy.
I'd been saving every birthday gift.
Every holiday check.
Every dollar I earned helping Aunt Denise with her bakery.
And Claire had been spending it on Lily.
Dad raised his phone again.
"Because I found more charges."
Claire went pale.
"What charges?"
Dad looked at the screen.
Then back at her.
"The Halloween purchases aren't even the biggest problem."
Claire lunged toward his phone.
"Marcus, give me that!"
He pulled it away.
I stood frozen beside the staircase.
My grandmother slowly rose from her chair.
"Marcus?"
Dad didn't answer.
He was staring at another transaction.
His face had changed completely.
I had never seen him look so angry.
Or so frightened.
May you like
Finally, he whispered, "Claire, what have you done?"
And suddenly, I realized my stolen Halloween costume was only the beginning.
