I took care of my mother during her last days, sacrificing everything to be by her side. However, when the will was read, I was left with nothing. The betrayal was profound, but the truth behind his decision and the secrets that followed changed everything I thought I knew about my family… and about myself.
I was driving to my late mother’s house, with the weight of her death still on my chest.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The funeral had been last week, and now it was my turn to take care of what was left: the hard and practical decisions that always seemed to fall on me.
Once again, I was the only rational person in the family, whom everyone trusted. The same thing had happened during mom’s illness.
I stayed by her side all the time, taking care of her, making sure she wasn’t alone. I had no doubt that he would leave the house to me. Not to Phoebe.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Phoebe was… complicated. It had always been. Unconventional, erratic… broken in a way that life had never fully fixed.
He couldn’t handle things like me. Despite how distant we were, I couldn’t stop worrying about her. After all, she was my little sister.
Next to me, in the car, Dan was sitting quietly, smelling slightly of alcohol. He had promised me that he had stopped drinking, but the familiar smell told me otherwise. Honestly, it was close to my breaking point.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
We entered the roadway and parked in front of mom’s house. When I saw her, I felt a new sting. Outside was the lawyer he had hired, with the briefcase in his hand, waiting.
“Hello,” I told the lawyer when we got out of the car. “Why aren’t you inside?”
“It’s closed,” he replied, looking at the house.
“Closed?” I repeated, frowning. “Phoebe hasn’t arrived yet? He told me he would arrive soon.”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I took out the phone and dialed his number. The call jumped directly to voicemail.
“His phone is off. Great,” I muttered, putting it back in my pocket. I didn’t have the keys either.
Dan, who was behind me, shook his head. “Your sister, as always. He needs a babysitter or something like that,” he said softly.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“It won’t take long to arrive,” I said, trying to stay calm. I gave him a firm look, challenging him to say something else.
Minutes later, I saw Phoebe walking through the entrance. He had messy hair and mascara running under his eyes. It seemed that he hadn’t slept.
“A hard night, huh?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Phoebe smiled weakly. “Is it so obvious?”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Get well. The lawyer is waiting,” I said, pointing towards the house.
“Oh, please,” he sneered, passing me. “We all know that the house is for you. You’re the perfect daughter, remember?”
I gritted my teeth and decided not to react. I knew he was struggling. Mom’s death had affected her a lot. People always said how much she looked like mom.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Inside, we sat down while the lawyer began to read the will. His voice rumbled until he pronounced the words for which I was not prepared.
“The house and all the goods are for Phoebe.”
“What?” I let go, staring at him. “What do you mean the house passes to Phoebe?”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’m just reading what’s written,” the lawyer said calmly.
“That’s not fair!” Dan exploded. “My wife was the only one who took care of her mother! She didn’t do anything.” He pointed a finger at Phoebe.
Phoebe got up from the chair, her face out of place, and ran away.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What? You know I’m right,” he said, his voice still heated.
I didn’t answer. I rolled my eyes, got up and followed Phoebe outside.
Phoebe was sitting on the bench in the courtyard, the place Mom liked the most. She looked tired, with her shoulders rended forward and her hands playing on her lap.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry about Dan,” I said, breaking the silence as I approached her.
“It’s okay,” she replied, in a plain voice. “It’s always like that. You should leave it.”
“I can’t,” I said, sitting next to him. “He’s my husband.”
Phoebe didn’t answer. He stared at the front, with a lost look. I hesitated and spoke again. “Sell me the house,” I said.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What?” Phoebe turned to me, startled.
“You need money for your flower shop,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Sell it to me. I will tear it down and build the house I dreamed of. I thought mom would leave it to me…”
“No,” she said, cutting me off.
“What do you mean no?” I asked, frowning.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’m not going to sell you the house. Mom left it to me,” he said, raising his voice.
“You haven’t done anything to deserve it,” I said, overflowing my emotions. “I took care of her. I fed her, bathed her, paid her bills. I was there when I couldn’t walk. And even so, he gave it to you because you were his favorite!”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“You have it all, Katherine!” Phoebe shouted, now standing up. “A good job, a husband – even if it’s terrible – and a million opportunities. They even offered you a job abroad! But you can’t choose! I have nothing. Just this house.”
“And I have responsibilities! Do you know why I didn’t accept that job? Because I couldn’t leave you. You wouldn’t stand it.”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Get out!” Phoebe shouted, her face blushing. “I’m not going to give you the house!”
“Then I’ll do everything to stay the same!” I shouted, leaving furiously.
I wanted to forget the argument with Phoebe and leave her alone. He had been right; he had everything.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I could buy another house if I wanted. But Dan didn’t allow it. He kept insisting that I challenge the will, saying that it was not fair and that I deserved the house.
I didn’t understand why he cared so much, but his insistence exhausted me.
That’s how it all started. Lawyers, endless discussions about the will and meetings with Phoebe, who seemed completely indifferent to all that. He shrugged at every meeting as if none of that mattered.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
One night, a few days before the appointment with the court, I ran into something unexpected.
In Dan’s office there was a pile of papers on his desk: overdue invoices and debt notifications.
My stomach dropped when I flipped through them. He was drowning in debt. I took the battery and went to the bedroom, where I was lying in bed.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Do you want to explain something to me?” I asked, lifting the papers with a sharp voice.
Dan sat on the bed, his face pale. “Katherine, it’s all been a misunderstanding,” he said quickly.
“A misunderstanding?” I repeated, raising the tone. “Do you see how many debts you have? Where did all this come from?”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He ran his hands over his face, avoiding my gaze. “We can fix it,” he said softly.
“Can we?” I skewered. “Is that why you pushed me to fight with Phoebe over the house? So that we could sell it and pay your debts?”
Dan’s expression changed and his frustration became apparent. “Anyway, he doesn’t deserve it!” he shouted. “It’s ruining our lives. You run to her every time she calls you! And you didn’t even want to challenge the will, even though you were the one who took care of your mother!”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I felt anger boiling inside me. “Because Phoebe couldn’t be there!” I yelled at him. “It was too much for her to see mom like that. He destroyed it. Where did those debts come from, Dan?”
His shoulders sank and he muttered, “From the game.”
“Do you bet?” I repeated, stunned.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“But if we sell the house,” he said quickly, “I will return everything. I’ll leave it forever. This can fix everything.”
“How did you say you would stop drinking?” I asked, with an icy voice.
Dan didn’t answer. He looked at me, with the guilt written on his face.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“You’re impossible,” I said, shaking my head. I turned around and left the room, taking the keys.
I drove to mom’s house, the only place I wanted to be. I rang the bell and Phoebe answered almost immediately.
He opened the door with an annoyed expression. “What?” he asked. “Have you come to persuade me again before the court appointment?”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“No,” I said, entering as she stepped aside. “Dan gambled a lot of money.”
Phoebe’s face changed, the irritation gave way to surprise. He didn’t say anything, he just led me to the yard. We sat on the bench, mom’s favorite place.
“We can sell the house and share the money,” Phoebe finally said after a moment of silence.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I shook my head. “No, I’m not going to do that. Mom left the house to you, so it’s yours. She wanted you to have her.”
“But you were going to take it away from me,” he said, in a soft but accusing voice.
I nodded, feeling that shame invaded me. “It was an empty threat during the fight. Then Dan pushed me to do it, and now I know why.”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Are you not going to pay his debt?” Phoebe asked, studying me.
“No,” I said firmly. “The only person I would sacrifice everything for is you.”
Phoebe was silent, looking at the floor. After a moment, he spoke. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’ve always felt like I was in your shadow. Katherine this, Katherine the other. She was just the weird girl who made jokes.”
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Just like mom,” I said, smiling.
“Yes,” she agreed, forming a small smile.
“I know you couldn’t help it because it was too painful for you to see her like that. Mom knew it too, that’s why she always talked about you. She loved you more. That’s why I always felt in your shadow,” I admitted.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Phoebe laughed softly. “It seems that mom should have taken parenting classes before having children.”
“So, what are you going to do?” he asked after a pause.
“To leave Dan, give you money for your flower shop and accept that job abroad,” I said.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Katherine,” Phoebe said, making her look at her.
“I’ll be fine. And you too,” he said.
“Yes, I know,” I replied, hugging her tightly.
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For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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