Six years after our divorce, my ex-husband’s new wife, Cassandra, tried to win my daughter Lily over with a $1,000 prom dress. She even mocked the dress I was sewing for Lily myself—an effort I poured love, late nights, and decades-old sewing skills into. Lily had fallen in love with the expensive gown online, but I couldn’t afford it. Instead, I offered to make her one like it. Though hesitant at first, Lily agreed. We designed it together, bought fabric with my credit card, and spent weeks bonding while I stitched it by hand.

The night before prom, Cassandra arrived uninvited, proudly presenting the designer dress and throwing subtle insults at my homemade version. Lily thanked her but didn’t say which dress she’d wear.