Parents left EVERYTHING to my brother, so I stopped paying their bills. A month later, Mom texted: «Mortgage deadline is here!» I just wrote THIS… My reply made everyone GO PALE…
Mom had her arms crossed, her signature judgmental stare fully activated. Dad stood with a tense face, hands in his pockets. His eyes mixed disappointment and superiority.
Like he couldn’t believe he had to deal with this in person. And Eric? That leech had the nerve to look bored, like none of this concerned him. Like he wasn’t the cause of this whole mess.
As soon as Mom saw me, she launched into full dramatic mode: «Jacob, finally. We need to talk.»
I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms: «No. You need to leave»…
She blinked, like she physically couldn’t process what I’d just said: «What?» «You heard me right.» My voice was calm, controlled, but firm.
«You can’t just show up at my home and demand money. This is insane.» Dad snorted sharply:
«Are you really going to let us lose the house over some petty grudge?» I let out a cold chuckle: «Petty grudge?» I stepped forward. «You mean the one where you decided I’m good enough to pay your bills but not good enough to be in the will? That grudge?» Mom gasped, pressing a hand to her chest like I’d just slapped her:
«Jacob, that’s not fair. We just did what was best for the family.» I tilted my head, looking at her with clear interest:
«Best for the family? You mean best for Eric? Just say it.» Silence. Deafening, heavy silence.
Eric, who’d been suspiciously quiet until now, finally opened his mouth: «Look, dude, I don’t even want to be involved in this, I didn’t ask for anything.» I whipped around to him and finally unleashed the pent-up anger:
«No. You just sat back and took everything they handed you.» I stepped closer, looking him right in the face.
«You’re twenty-eight years old, Eric. Get a damn job.» His face flushed red instantly:
«Dude, you’re kidding.» «You heard me just fine.» I took another step forward.
«You want to inherit the house? Start acting like a homeowner. You want to be the golden boy? Pay their damn bills.»
I straightened up, crossing my arms: «I’m done being your personal bank.» Eric looked away, suddenly fascinated by the pavement.
Mom took a deep breath, clearly gearing up for another wave of emotional pressure: «Jacob, he’s your brother.» I nodded:
«Yeah. And I’ve supported him longer than you ever did.» Dad’s face darkened:
«You’re being selfish.» I burst out laughing. Genuinely:
«Oh, the irony, you know.» I waved a hand at them: «You two decided Eric deserves everything, and I get nothing.»
I leaned in closer: «And now that you have to pay for your choice, you’re trying to make me fix it.» I shook my head:
«Not happening.» Mom’s voice got harder: «We thought you’d be the adult in this situation.»
I raised an eyebrow: «Oh, you mean adult like quietly swallowing the betrayal and keeping paying your bills?» I shook my head:
«Let’s not pretend, Mom. That’s exactly what you wanted.» Dad stepped forward, trying to loom over me like he did when I was a kid…
«Jacob, we raised you. We fed you, clothed you. Gave you everything you have.»
He raised his eyebrows: «So the least you can do is help us now.» I met his gaze:
«I’ve already helped. For years.» I leaned in closer: «And you repaid me by cutting me out of your lives.»
Mom’s lips trembled: «We thought… you’d understand.» I exhaled heavily, shaking my head: «Oh, I understand.»
I looked up at them: «I understand that to you, I was never family. Just a wallet.»..
