Before my dad passed away, it was just the three of us living in his house—me, my dad, and my older sister (35). But if I’m being honest, she was barely around. She never seemed to consider herself part of our family. The house was more of a crash pad for her than a home.

Two weeks ago, my dad passed away. We were incredibly close—unlike my sister, who always kept her distance.

Then came the will.

At the lawyer’s office, we found out that my dad left the entire house to my sister. And me? I got his old watch.

I nearly broke down when I held it. It felt like I was holding a piece of him.

For a few days, we still lived under the same roof—until, out of nowhere, my sister said, “This is it. Our paths split here. I need you to leave.”

I had just gotten home from work. And my stuff? Already packed, dumped by the door.

Panicked, I called our lawyer, telling him my sister had kicked me out and that I needed advice.

But instead of sympathy, I heard something unexpected—he laughed.

“I can’t believe this! Everything is happening just as your father predicted. Come to my office tomorrow—I have something for you.”

“I’ll book you a motel for the night,” he said. “Or a bed and breakfast. Just give me ten minutes, and I’ll send you a car and the address.”

I waited for his text.

When the car arrived, I got into it and the driver took me to a sweet little bed and breakfast.

“Here you go, ma’am,” he said, taking my suitcases out.

I was just unpacking my pajamas when the owner showed up at the door.

“Dawn?” she asked. “Matthew asked me to bring you some dinner. I have mac and cheese and a salad.”

I couldn’t believe how lucky I had gotten with the lawyer. I didn’t know him well, but at least he was taking care of me.

I barely slept that night.

The next morning, I dragged myself to Matthew’s office, exhausted and numb. He greeted me with a warm smile.

“Sit down, kid,” he said. “You’re going to want to be sitting for this.”

“What’s going on?”

He slid a folder across the desk.

“Your father was a smart man, Dawn,” he said. “He knew Charlotte would most likely throw you out the moment she got control of the house.”

“He knew?” I gulped.

“That’s why he made me draw this up,” he said.

Matthew opened the folder.

“Seven years ago, your father inherited a very large sum of money. It was almost two million dollars. It was from a distant relative who didn’t have any children, but your father took care of her when she needed help.”

“What?” I gasped.

“Yeah, he didn’t end up telling either of you. But I’m sure he had his reasons. Now, here’s the catch, Dawn. Your father split the money between you and Charlotte.”

“She gets a share too?” I said slowly, my heart sinking.

“Yes, Dawn. But there’s a condition. Charlotte has to share the house with you equally.”

I sat up straighter. Suddenly, there seemed like a way out of this mess.

“If your sister refuses, she gets absolutely nothing.”

“There’s more,” he continued. “Your father left you this.”

He slid a letter across the table to me.

It was my dad’s writing.

Dawn, my darling,

I know Charlotte, sweetheart. I know what she’ll do. But you are smarter than her. You always have been. The money is in a safety deposit box. Use it wisely, my girl.

I love you more than anything.

—Dad

I stared at the details of the bank account.

“I don’t know the code to the safe deposit box,” I whispered.

The lawyer smiled.

“The watch,” he said simply.

I took Dad’s watch off my wrist and turned it over. On the back, there were tiny scratches. Four digits, faint but visible.

A code!

Matthew grinned.

“Your dad was a genius, Dawn.”

I laughed, like really, really laughed, for the first time since he d-ied.

Charlotte had the house, but she also had all the debt. And she had just kicked out the one person who could save her from losing everything.

I was still staying at the bed and breakfast a few days later when Charlotte called me. I let it ring while I went to get myself a glass of water.

Then, I picked it up.

“Hello?” I said sweetly.

“You knew, didn’t you?” she spat.

“Knew what?” I asked.

“The house,” she snapped. “The lawyer just called me. There is debt. A lot of it. Like thousands of dollars. If they aren’t paid off, the house gets taken, Dawn. And you…” she let out a shaky breath. “You have the money, don’t you?”

I twirled my dad’s watch around my wrist.

“I might have the money…” I said. “But we don’t exactly have a good history, do we? You did kick me out.”

She was silent.

“You have to help me!” she said finally.

I smiled.

“I would have helped you, Charlotte,” I said. “If you had been nicer to me growing up, sis. Maybe then, I’d feel bad.”

Then I hung up.

Matthew was helping me look for a furnished apartment.

“Something small will be perfect,” he said. “You have a few months before you go off to college, Dawn. You don’t need to be tied down to a big home. An apartment is the way to go. And you’ll be eighteen soon and then you can do whatever you want. For now, you need to focus on school.”

“Thank you for helping me,” I said. “I would have been lost without you.”

“Dawn, your father told me all about you and how difficult your sister made your life. Especially after your mother left the family. I promised your father that I would get you back on your feet.”

Some weeks later, I was in my little studio apartment in an artsy part of town. And I loved it.

I don’t know what happened to Charlotte, but when I walked past our house one evening, I saw a SOLD sign in the front. I probably should have felt bad, but I didn’t. It wasn’t my home without my father.

And at least, he was still looking out for me, even if it was through Matthew.