George’s absence haunts their home, his memory wrapped in his shirt that Mariana clutches each night.

Yet, it wasn’t his death that shattered her… it was her stepdaughter Susan’s demand for his assets. When she finally gave in, a twist emerged, leaving Susan furious and Mariana oddly at peace.Moving on after losing a loved one is never easy. Sometimes, I still hear my hubby George’s voice in the back of my head.

I wake up clutching his favorite shirt, his scent lingering on the fabric. But while I was still grieving his loss, what my stepdaughter did… it completely shattered me…I’m Mariana, 57 years old, and I was married to the most wonderful man, George, for 25 years. He had a daughter, Susan, 34, from a previous marriage.

Our relationship with Susan used to be fine. She called me “Mom” and filled the void in my heart of not having a child of my own. I didn’t see her as “someone else’s” child. I loved her as my own daughter, you know. When Susan got married to the man of her choice, George and I were overjoyed.

But after that, everything went downhill when George was diagnosed with terminal cancer.Susan’s visits dwindled from weekly to monthly, then stopped altogether. She barely came to see her father, occasionally calling me to ask about his condition. One day, she asked me something that tore me apart. “How many more days does he have left to live?”

I gripped the phone tightly, my voice trembling. “Susan, your father isn’t some product with an expiry date.”” I just want to know, Mom. I’m busy, you know that… I can’t be visiting often,” she replied. “Busy?” I echoed, disbelief coloring my tone. “Too busy to see your dying father?” She sighed heavily. “Look, I’ll try to visit soon, okay?” But that “soon” never came. Then, the day I dreaded finally arrived.