The next day, Mike “busted” Jake at a café in front of his friends for using fake cash. Jake panicked, begged for help—and I walked in, pretending to be shocked.
Afterward, I revealed the setup and the whole thing caught on video. “Next time you act out, this goes public,” I warned.
That was the wake-up call he needed.
From then on, Jake was a new person—respectful, helpful, and even apologetic. My home became peaceful again, and my step-son finally became part of the family.
Sometimes, tough love is the only love that works.
