The Plan That Made My Stepmother Regret Everything

The first call was to my dad, who was away on business. He needed to know what was really happening at home.

The second was to a real estate agent friend. I asked her to confirm whether a small, well-trained dog could actually affect house value.
(Spoiler: it doesn’t.)

The third call was to a lawyer, just in case Linda decided to push things further—because technically, Granddad was a tenant in the home he once owned.

By the next morning, I was ready.

When I arrived at the house, Linda was in the kitchen, arranging flowers like nothing had happened.

“Linda, we need to talk,” I said.

She sighed. “If this is about your granddad, I’ve already explained—”

“Actually,” I cut in, “it’s about kindness. And family. The kind that doesn’t throw someone out because of a dog that makes them happy.”

Just then, my dad walked in, suitcase still in hand. I told him everything—the calls, the facts, the proof that she was wrong.

The room fell silent.

Linda’s confidence wavered. She hadn’t expected anyone to stand up to her, least of all me.

Dad spoke quietly but firmly:
“Linda, unless you want legal trouble and a broken family, you’re going to fix this—now.”

And she did.
She apologized to Granddad, let Penny back in, and promised it wouldn’t happen again.

Watching him sit in his favorite chair that evening, Penny curled up on his lap, I knew I’d done the right thing.

Would you have done the same?
Because sometimes, standing up for love and family means refusing to stay silent.