I stopped asking for much, but the final straw came when he promised to help with my graduation party, then backed out to spend the money on his stepson. That moment made things clear—I was always second to them. I decided not to rely on him anymore and focused on what I could control: my future. With my mom’s love and the support of her kind boyfriend, Mike, I worked hard, got accepted into my dream college, and planned my graduation celebration without expecting anything from my dad.

On graduation day, top students were invited to walk the stage with someone meaningful. As I stood, ready to make that walk, my dad tried to step up. But before he could, Mike stood beside me instead—the man who’d helped with applications, interviews, and late-night study sessions. My dad erupted, demanding to be the one next to me, but I calmly reminded him: “You forgot me for ten years—don’t remember me now just because there’s an audience.”