I’m Olive, 23, and this is about my late Mom’s necklace. Mom, my rock, lost her battle with cancer when I was 19. Her diamond necklace, a family heirloom, was my most cherished memory of her. After Mom’s death, I moved back home with Dad and guarded the necklace closely.

Then came Magdalene, Dad’s fiancée. From day one, she eyed Mom’s necklace. When Dad asked if she could wear it at their wedding, I refused. “That necklace is everything to me. It’s Mom’s,” I told him. Despite hiding it, Magdalene found and took it.

On their wedding day, I stayed home, only to discover the necklace was gone. Furious, I called Magdalene. She dismissed me, saying she’d return it after the honeymoon. I called the cops, who retrieved the necklace at the wedding. “You ruined our wedding!” Magdalene screamed. Dad added, “You humiliated us!”

I defended myself: “The necklace belonged to my late Mom. It has sentimental value.” Dad disowned me, and I moved back to my old apartment. Slowly, I began to heal, joining a support group and diving into work. The necklace stayed with me, a precious reminder of Mom.

Seeing Dad and Magdalene’s honeymoon photos, I felt a mix of fury and indifference. But I knew my life was with Mom’s memories and the necklace. Through the pain, I emerged stronger, honoring the woman Mom always believed I could be.