My Ex’s Wife Tried to Humiliate Me—But My Daughter Stole the Spotlight

I’m a single mom who couldn’t afford the $1,000 prom dress my daughter dreamed of—so I made one. Night after night, I sewed it by hand while working two jobs. The night before prom, ex-husband’s new wife, Debbi, showed up uninvited—with that dress in hand—and a smug smile meant to humiliate me. My daughter smiled, glowing, holding the designer gown. I stayed silent, heartbroken, not wanting to ruin her night. But at the prom, hidden behind glittering streamers, I watched as Rose stepped through the doors and…

Being a single mom means getting used to heartbreak in small doses. Canceled plans. Tight budgets. Missed birthdays because of double shifts. But nothing prepared me for the sting I felt the night before my daughter’s prom.

Rose had fallen in love with a $1,000 designer dress months ago. We both knew it wasn’t in the cards. I work two jobs just to keep the lights on. So instead, we dreamed together. She showed me pictures, picked the color, sketched her dream. I watched her eyes light up—not from a shopping trip, but from hope.

I bought fabric with money I probably shouldn’t have spent. For weeks, I came home from work and went straight to the machine. My hands ached. My back screamed. But Rose would peek in, whisper “It’s perfect,” and suddenly I didn’t feel tired anymore.

The night before prom, we finally finished. I hung it on the closet door—satin, deep burgundy, the exact shade she imagined. She tried it on. It wasn’t flawless, but it was magic. She twirled in front of the mirror like she was stepping into her future.