My parents left everything to my brother, so I stopped paying their bills. A month later, my mother sent me a text message.

I sat there staring at the papers, my hands trembling with rage and betrayal. How long had they been planning this? Had they only ever intended to use me as a financial safety net from the very beginning, without offering anything in return?

Did they ever appreciate what I did for them? I don’t know how long I kept it up, but eventually Dad realized I wasn’t scanning anything. “Jacob, what’s taking so long?” he asked as he entered the room.

I didn’t even try to hide the will. I simply held it up, looked him straight in the eye, and asked, “So that’s how it is, then?” “Everything.”

“For Eric. After everything I’ve done for you.” Dad’s face went pale for a moment, then he sighed deeply, as if he were dealing with a whiny toddler.

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