As Lila was ready to celebrate her 17th birthday, she received an unexpected and creepy gift from her stepmother: a pink funerary urn. Like the type you keep ashes in? Yes, that’s the one. But that’s not all! Lila learns that her college fund was given to Monica to open her salon. What will Lila do?
Let me tell you, I’ve been sitting on this one for a few days, just trying to make sense of what went down.
I always thought my stepmom, Monica, was the worst, though not Disney villain evil. She was the kind of person who talks over you, forgets your birthday, and calls you “kiddo” when you’re practically an adult.
A smiling teenage girl | Source: Midjourney
But, what she pulled on my 17th birthday? It shattered whatever shaky truce we had.
At least, that’s what I thought. Turns out, things weren’t exactly what they seemed.
Here’s how it all went down.
My mom, Sarah, died when I was ten, and after that, it was just Dad and me. We were a solid team. The type of team that has pizza for dinner half the week, late-night movies, and this unspoken agreement that we’d always have each other’s backs.
Two boxes of pizza on a coffee table | Source: Midjourney
Then came Monica, about three years ago.
At first, she wasn’t horrible; she was just… there. Like a stray cat that never leaves, so you have no choice but to adopt it. Monica moved into our house, took over the bathroom with her fifty bottles of face serums and creams, and slowly pushed her way into my dad’s world.
Monica had big dreams of opening a hair salon, which was fine. I wasn’t against people having dreams. I had my own dreams waiting for me, but she treated me like I was just this annoying piece of furniture that came with the house.
A woman’s vanity | Source: Midjourney
Honestly, I was counting down the days until I could escape to college.
Dad had promised me since middle school that there was a college fund waiting for me.
“Don’t worry, sweet girl,” he told me. “Your mom and I put together the fund when you were five. There’s more than enough, and every year on your birthday and Christmas, I add more.”
A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you, Dad,” I said. “I just want to study and make something of myself, like Mom said.”
“You only have to worry about your grades, Lila,” he said. “I’ll handle the rest.”
Naturally, I worked my butt off in school, knowing that in a few years, I’d be out of here.
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
College was my golden ticket, and no one — not even Monica — would stand in my way.
At least, that’s what I thought.
On the morning of my 17th birthday, I came downstairs expecting the usual lukewarm effort. By lukewarm, I mean a sad card, some pancakes, and Monica forgetting my favorite syrup. Dad was at work, so it was just Mon and I.
A plate of pancakes and a card on a table | Source: Midjourney
She handed me a gift bag, which was already weird because Monica wasn’t exactly the thoughtful or sentimental type.
“Happy Birthday, kiddo,” she said, flashing one of her tight-lipped smiles.
I wasn’t expecting much, but I sure as hell wasn’t expecting this.
I reached inside the bag and pulled out… an urn.
A shocked teenage girl | Source: Midjourney
A funerary urn.
You know, the kind that people store ashes in. Cold, heavy, and, well, pink. It was pink.
I just stared at it, my brain short-circuiting.
“What the hell is this?” I asked, holding the urn like it was cursed.
A pink funerary urn | Source: Midjourney
Monica leaned against the kitchen counter, smug as ever.
“It’s symbolic,” she said as if that explained anything.
“Symbolic of what?”
Monica’s grin widened.
A smiling woman in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“It’s time to bury your dreams of college, kiddo. Your dad and I talked about this, and we decided to put the college fund to better use.”
“Better use?” I asked, a cold shiver running through me.
“Yep. We’re investing it in my hair salon. College is a gamble, Lila. A business? That’s something real, sweetie.”
A hair salon being renovated | Source: Midjourney
She sipped her coffee like she’d just said the most reasonable thing in the world.
I was frozen in place, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard. Had they really taken my future, everything I’d worked for, and sunk it into Monica’s salon dream?
“How could you do this?” I whispered.
Monica just smiled, a little too pleased with herself.
A shocked teenage girl | Source: Midjourney
“Life’s full of disappointments, kiddo. Better get used to it now,” she said.
Wow.
That was it. I was done. I ran upstairs, slamming the door behind me so hard that the walls shook.
I cried so hard it hurt. What else could I do? Everything I had been holding onto was gone, and the only person I thought I could count on, Dad, had let this happen.
An upset teenage girl | Source: Midjourney
My mom wanted me to get out and make something of myself. And now? It was all over.
The next few days were a blur. I didn’t speak to Monica or my dad unless I absolutely had to. Every time I looked at that stupid urn sitting on my desk, my stomach twisted.
I couldn’t even bring myself to throw it out. It felt like some kind of morbid evidence. Like proof of the betrayal I didn’t see coming.
A pink funerary urn on a desk | Source: Midjourney
At school, my friends tried to cheer me up.
“Maybe she thought it was funny, Lila,” my friend Kira said. “Like, who really knows what Monica is thinking?”
“And anyway, there’s nothing stopping you from throwing it out! Just do it! Don’t overthink it,” Mel said.
Three teenage girls | Source: Midjourney
But still, I couldn’t focus on anything other than the fact that Monica was prancing around, acting like she was the queen of the house, while I sat there with no future.
Then, a few days later, something strange happened.
When I got home from school, there was a note on my desk. Not in an envelope, just folded, with my name written in Monica’s messy handwriting.
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
Meet me at the salon at 6 P.M. tonight. No questions. Just trust me. -M.
I almost laughed out loud. Trust her? Yeah, right.
But something about the note gnawed at me. Maybe it was the fact that I wanted to confront her one last time, tell her exactly what I thought of her.
Against my better judgment, I decided to go.
A note on a table | Source: Midjourney
When I got to the salon, the lights were off, and the front door was unlocked.
I hesitated for a second, wondering if this was some elaborate prank. But curiosity got the best of me.
I stepped inside, and there they were. Monica and my dad, standing side by side, both grinning widely.
“Surprise!” Monica shouted, throwing her arms up like this was the happiest moment of her life.
The entrance to a salon | Source: Midjourney
I just stared at them, completely lost.
“What is this?”
Monica stepped aside, and that’s when I saw it — a shiny, brand-new sign mounted on the wall.
Dream Cuts: A Scholarship Fund in Honor of Sarah
I blinked, feeling like the room was tilting on its axis.
A hair salon | Source: Midjourney
“What… what is this?”
Monica smiled, but it wasn’t her usual smug grin. This one was softer, almost real.
“We didn’t use your college fund, kiddo. It’s all still there. The salon? It’s not just for me. It’s for you, too. For other kids like you, too.”
I couldn’t breathe.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“But then, why would you make me think otherwise?” I asked.
Monica winced, putting her hand on her head.
“Yeah, so, the urn thing… That was not my best idea. I thought it’d be motivational, like, bury the past and embrace the future. You know? But it turns out that it was just creepy.”
A woman with her hand on her head | Source: Midjourney
I stared at her, speechless.
My dad stepped forward, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“We’ve been planning this for months, Lila,” he said. “Your mom always wanted to help kids get to college. This salon is going to fund scholarships. For you and for others in her name.”
“The salon has been my dream, Lila,” Monica said. “But it was never going to come at your expense. This way, a great portion of all our profits in the future will go to the fund.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t know what to say.
Or what to think.
Just that I felt a warm haze take over me.
Monica laughed softly.
“I’m not a monster, darling,” she said. “I just didn’t want you to think that I was trying to take over your mom’s role.”
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
For the first time in a long time, I smiled.
It wasn’t perfect, but things with Monica probably never would be. But, at that moment, standing in the middle of a salon named for my mom’s dream, I realized that she wasn’t trying to ruin my life.
She was trying to build something bigger than any of us.
A smiling teenage girl | Source: Midjourney
And somehow, against all odds, it felt like a new beginning.
And yeah, I kept the urn. But I planted white peace lilies in it, thinking it would be symbolic after all. And who knows, maybe I’ll take the urn to college.
What would you have done?
Peace lilies planted into a pink funerary urn | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
I Transferred $24K to My Daughter for Her College Tuition, Only to Discover She Never Enrolled — What She Spent It On Made Me Pale
Caroline had been saving for her daughter’s college fund since Angela was born. But after a classmate of Angela’s reveals that Angela is not actually enrolled in college, Caroline must uncover what her daughter is doing and what she used the money for.
Children are always going to break your heart. This was something that I learned the hard way after trusting my daughter, Angela, completely.
A close-up of a smiling girl | Source: Midjourney
Since Angela was born, I have been saving for college. I needed to know that irrespective of what life threw my way, I would be able to educate my child.
“I think you can wait until she’s a little older,” my husband, Holden, said. “We can do it together.”
“You can add to her college fund later,” I said, looking at my baby girl. “But I’m going to start from next month. I wasn’t able to study, Holden. And it was because we didn’t have the opportunity to do so. Angela is going to get that opportunity.”
A smiling baby girl | Source: Midjourney
“Okay, Caroline,” my husband said. “You start it now, and I’ll add to it in a year. The house will be paid off, and I’ll be able to put that money into the fund.”
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Clint Eastwood’s Secret Daughter: From Adoptive Family to Teacher – See How She Looks Just Like Him
Clint Eastwood’s hidden daughter, Laurie Murray, grew up without knowing her famous father. She was raised by another family and only found out about Clint Eastwood when she was an adult. Now, Laurie is a teacher, living a quiet life, but she has developed a close relationship with Clint. They look remarkably alike.
Clint Eastwood’s family has intrigued fans for years, and many know about his seven children who have worked in movies like him. However, Laurie’s story is a lesser-known part of his life.
However, there’s an eighth Eastwood who was kept secret for many years. Discover the story of Clint’s blended family, including the daughter he didn’t know about, and how they eventually came together.
Clint Eastwood is a Hollywood legend, famous for his tough-guy roles and impressive career as an actor, director, and producer. He first gained fame with his role as “The Man with No Name” in the 1960s, becoming a symbol of rugged masculinity in movies.
Clint Eastwood’s personal life is as layered as his film career. He was married to Maggie Johnson from 1953 to 1984. Their marriage faced challenges due to Clint’s demanding career, but they had two children together: Kyle and Alison.
Clint Eastwood’s second marriage was to TV anchor Dina Ruiz, which began in 1996 and ended in 2014. Besides his two marriages, Clint has had several children with different partners. For years, he was known to have seven children.
His first child, Kimber Eastwood, was born in 1964 from an affair with Roxanne Tunis. Kimber has worked as a makeup artist on shows like “Wheel of Fortune” since 2005 and also as a producer, keeping a relatively low profile compared to her siblings.
Kyle Eastwood, born in 1968, is a skilled jazz musician and composer. He has composed music for several of his father Clint’s films, such as “Mystic River” and “Gran Torino.” Kyle has made a name for himself in the music industry, performing around the world and showing off his musical talent beyond the Eastwood family legacy.
“I think I decided I loved music more than acting. I’ve always loved it; it’s always been a passion of mine,” Kyle shared in a 2021 interview.
Alison Eastwood, born in 1972, also ventured into the entertainment industry, following in her father’s footsteps. She has worked as both an actress and a director, appearing in films like “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and “The Mule.” Alison has frequently collaborated with her father, Clint, throughout her career.
Scott Eastwood, born in 1986 to Jacelyn Reeves, a former flight attendant, is one of Clint Eastwood’s most recognized children. Growing up primarily with his mother in Hawaii, Scott didn’t spend much time with his father early on. However, they eventually connected more when Scott moved to California during high school to live with Clint.
Scott has since made a name for himself in Hollywood, landing roles in popular films like “Fury,” “The Longest Ride,” and “Suicide Squad.” His successful acting career has made him a notable figure in his own right.
Kathryn Eastwood, born in 1988, is Scott Eastwood’s younger sister. Like her siblings, she chose a career in the entertainment industry, focusing on acting and screenwriting. Kathryn has appeared in films such as “Jersey Boys” and “Virus of the Dead.” Despite her involvement in the industry, she has kept a lower profile compared to her more prominent siblings.
Francesca Eastwood, born in 1993 to actress Frances Fisher, has made a name for herself in both acting and reality television. She is known for her role in “Heroes Reborn” and her appearances on the reality show “Mrs. Eastwood & Company.” Francesca blends her family’s fame with her own distinctive style, frequently appearing at red-carpet events and maintaining a public presence.
The youngest of Clint Eastwood’s known children, Morgan Eastwood, was born in 1996 during his marriage to Dina Ruiz. Morgan made some appearances on the reality TV show “Mrs. Eastwood & Company” and in a few of her father’s films.
Though she has mostly stayed out of the limelight, focusing on her own life away from Hollywood, an intriguing revelation came to light years later. It was discovered that Morgan and her siblings had a long-lost older sister, whose story seems like something out of a movie script.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Laurie’s birth mother had listed Clint Eastwood’s name on the adoption paperwork. A close friend mentioned, “It seemed Clint Eastwood had no idea she was even pregnant.”
Laurie’s birth mother, who had been in a serious relationship with Clint in Seattle while he was still engaged to his first wife, decided to put the baby up for adoption after their relationship ended.
“Laurie and her family have spent Thanksgiving with the Eastwoods in the Carmel area a few times,” the friend added. In December 2018, Laurie publicly appeared as Clint’s daughter for the first time at the Los Angeles premiere of his film *The Mule*.
She posed alongside Clint’s other seven children, proudly introducing herself as Laurie Eastwood. At the reception, Laurie was seen mingling with Clint and sharing a drink, highlighting the strong bond they had developed over the years.
Laurie, a mother of two who lives in Lakewood, Washington, attended the University of Washington and works as an elementary school teacher at a private institution. Friends describe her as private and kind-hearted, and she tends to keep her connection to Clint Eastwood discreet.
Many on social media have noted the striking resemblance between Laurie and Clint Eastwood. Comments poured in, with one person noting, “She looks so much like him.” Another observed, “Well, she got her dad’s eyes.”
One user added, “She looks just like his mother,” while another praised her, saying, “She has huge Bambi eyes, beautiful woman, must’ve been a stunner in her day.”
Laurie Murray’s new relationship with Clint Eastwood has opened a meaningful chapter in her life. Through golf outings, family gatherings, and private moments, Laurie has found a special place in the Eastwood family. Although this connection was unexpected, it has become deeply cherished for her.
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