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

“Jacob, it’s not what you think.” “Really?” I snapped at him. “Because I’ve made it perfectly clear: I’m paying your mortgage, I’m doing your shopping, I’m renovating this house, while Eric is doing absolutely nothing.”

And yet he is the only one who matters.” Dad seemed uncomfortable, but instead of a proper explanation he just mumbled: “It’s complicated, and that’s all.”

No apology, no attempt to justify his decision. Just a flimsy excuse and the expectation that I would swallow it and continue to be his walking ATM. I should have turned around and left immediately.

But I had to hear it from my parents. “Mom!” I screamed. He came into the room and, when he saw the will in my hands, at least looked guilty. But his words made my blood boil…

“Jacob, my darling, you don’t need an inheritance,” Mom said softly, as if she were doing me a favor. “You have a good job, you’re independent.”

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