My Stepsister Stole the Designer Dress and Handbag I Worked Six Months to Buy—Then My Stepmother Tried to Slap Me, and Dad Canceled Their $12,000 Hawaii Vacation

“Michael, sweetheart, you're home early.””

Vanessa lowered her hand and immediately changed her expression. Her angry face dissolved into the warm, practiced smile she used whenever Dad's business associates visited.

Dad didn't smile back.

“Why was your hand raised?””

Vanessa laughed nervously.

“Oh, please. Don't make it sound so dramatic. Emily was being disrespectful, and I was trying to get her attention.””

“By slapping her?””

“I wasn't going to slap her!””

“You were standing close enough to do it.””

Dad set his briefcase on the entryway table.

I'd seen him angry before. He was a commercial property manager, and he'd occasionally come home frustrated after dealing with dishonest contractors. But this was different.

He wasn't shouting.

He was looking.

At the stain on my dress.

At Madison's fingers curled around my handbag.

At me, standing with my shoulders drawn up and my hands trembling.

“Emily,” he said, “tell me what happened. Start from the beginning.””

Vanessa interrupted immediately.

“Michael, you know how Emily gets. She exaggerates everything.””

“I'm asking Emily.””

Madison crossed her arms.

“Dad, she came home and started screaming at me. I only borrowed the dress.””

“Did you ask her permission?””

Madison opened her mouth, then closed it.

Dad waited.

“Well?”” he asked.

“No,” she muttered.

“But I knew she'd say no.””

“So you took it anyway?””

“It isn't that serious!””

Dad looked at the handbag.

“And that?””

“Same thing,” Madison said.

“I needed something nice for my date.””

“Did you ask?””

“No.””

“Did you spill coffee on the dress?””

Madison looked toward Vanessa.

Dad noticed.

“Madison. I'm talking to you.””

“Fine! Yes, I spilled a little coffee. I said I was sorry!””

“You haven't apologized,” I said.

Madison whipped around.

“Would you shut up for once?””

“Madison,” Dad warned.

She fell silent, but her expression promised that the argument wasn't over.

I explained the price of the dress, how long I'd saved for the handbag, and how I'd never worn either item. I told him about the stain and Vanessa insisting that I should share my belongings.

Then I told him about the vacation.

Dad's expression changed at the mention of Hawaii.

“Vanessa told you about that?””

“She made sure I knew exactly how much it cost.””

Vanessa lifted her chin.

“Because there's nothing wrong with celebrating your family.””

Dad reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.

“Yes,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong with that.””

Vanessa relaxed slightly.

“Exactly.””

“Unless celebrating your family means teaching one daughter that she can take whatever she wants from the other.””

Her mouth tightened.

“Michael, that's unfair.””

He unlocked his phone.

“Let's discuss the vacation, then.””

Madison's eyes widened.

“Dad, please don't.””

He opened the booking confirmation.

“Two first-class tickets. Two suites at a luxury resort. Private airport transfers. Excursions and dining packages.””

He scrolled down.

“Total: twelve thousand dollars.””

Vanessa folded her arms.

“You paid for it. We didn't force you.””

“No. I paid for it because I thought we were a family that respected one another.””

“We are!””

“Then explain why you stood here watching Madison wear Emily's clothes without permission.””

Vanessa's cheeks reddened.

“Because I didn't think a dress was worth this much drama!””

Dad looked at the stain.

“Apparently, neither did Madison.””

Madison stamped her foot.

“It's just a dress! You're acting like I burned the house down!””

“No,” Dad replied.

“I'm acting like you need to understand that other people's property isn't yours simply because you want it.””

He tapped the screen.

Vanessa took a step toward him.

“Michael, what are you doing?””

“Canceling the trip.””

The hallway erupted.

“WHAT?”” Madison screamed.

Vanessa lunged forward and grabbed his wrist.

“You cannot be serious!””

Dad pulled his arm away.

“Watch me.””

“Michael, we've already told everyone we're going! My sister has been planning dinners around our trip!””

“Then tell her your plans changed.””

“You'll embarrass us!””

Dad stared at her.

“Is that what you're worried about? Embarrassment?””

Vanessa's mouth opened, but no answer came.

Dad called the travel agency.

“Hello. My name is Michael Bennett. I have a reservation for Vanessa Carter and Madison Carter departing next Friday. I'd like to cancel both passenger bookings.””

The representative asked him to confirm the reservation number.

He read it aloud.

Vanessa paced behind him, clutching her phone.

“Michael, please. We can discuss this privately.””

He covered the microphone.

“We could have discussed it privately before you tried to hit my daughter.””

“I did not hit her!””

“You raised your hand.””

“Because she was disrespectful!””

“Then use your words. She's an adult, Vanessa. So are you.””

He returned to the call.

“Yes, I understand the cancellation terms. Please proceed.””

Madison burst into tears.

“Dad, you can't take Hawaii away from me! I've been shopping for this trip for weeks!””

“You can still go on vacation someday.””

“Not like this!””

Vanessa pointed at me.

“This is because of her! She's always been jealous of Madison, and now she's manipulating you!””

I felt my face grow hot.

“I didn't ask him to cancel anything.””

“You didn't have to!”” Vanessa snapped.

“You knew exactly what you were doing!””

Dad ended the call and turned toward her.

“No. Emily asked for her own belongings back. Everything that happened after that was your choice.””

He looked at Madison.

“Take off the dress. Put the handbag on the table.””

Madison shook her head.

“But, Dad—”

“Now.””

Her lips trembled. She stepped out of the dress carefully, trying not to pull at the stained fabric. Underneath, she wore a black slip she'd apparently brought into my room while I was at work.

She dropped the dress onto the table.

Then she removed the handbag from her arm and placed it beside it.

“There,” she muttered.

“Happy?””

“No,” Dad said.

“But we're getting somewhere.””

Vanessa glared at him.

“You've humiliated us over a few clothes.””

Dad's phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen, and his expression hardened.

It wasn't a message from the travel agency.

It was a banking alert.