After I refused to give my mom my inheritance, she invited me to a family meeting…

You didn’t see how she was after the will reading when you weren’t around. It was like she became obsessed. The only thing she talked about was getting her money back.

Samantha, who had been making notes on her tablet, interjected gently. Jason, did your mother discuss specific plans for the inheritance? Beyond general statements about family sharing. He hesitated, loyalty warring with his new understanding.

She had a whole list. The house in Naples was just the beginning. She wanted to buy into some exclusive country club, get a boat, renovate the entire house.

And my college tuition? I prompted softly. Was that ever mentioned? His eyes dropped back to his coffee. Once.

I asked about it specifically. She said, she said you were smart enough to get scholarships and that you’d probably try to take over grandpa’s business anyway, so you didn’t need help. The casual cruelty of it stung, but didn’t surprise me.

What about your college plans? She kept saying not to worry, that once she had control of the money, everything would be taken care of. A bitter laugh escaped him. I believed her.

God, I was so stupid. You weren’t stupid. I reassured him.

You trusted your mother. That’s normal. Samantha cleared her throat.

I hate to interrupt, but we need to discuss next steps. The immediate crisis is averted, but we should prepare for potential fallout. I nodded, shifting into the practical mindset my grandfather had cultivated in me.

What do you recommend? First, follow the letter from George and the journal as supplementary documentation with the probate court. It strengthens your position should there be any challenge. She made another note on her tablet.

Second, consider a restraining order if the harassment continues. A restraining order against my own mother? The thought was surreal. Only if necessary, she qualified.

But the recorded threats should be taken seriously. Jason looked up sharply. What threats? I hadn’t told him about Craig’s late night calls or the time I’d found my mother watching my apartment.

Some protective instinct had made me shield him from the worst of it. It’s been intense, I admitted. But I’m hoping today’s confrontation will be the end of it.

Samantha looked skeptical but didn’t push. At minimum, change your locks and security codes. And Jason, she turned to my brother.

You’ll need somewhere safe to stay. The reality of his situation seemed to hit him all at once. I can’t go home.

I don’t have anywhere else to go. Yes, you do, I said without hesitation. You’ll stay with me.

The relief on his face was immediate and heartbreaking. Are you sure? Absolutely. Despite everything, he was still my little brother.

My apartment has a pull-out couch with your name on it. Samantha smiled for the first time since the confrontation. That’s settled then.

Now, Amber, we should discuss your grandfather’s estate. Have you given any thought to how you want to proceed? The question caught me off guard. I’d been so focused on defending my inheritance that I hadn’t fully considered what I would actually do with it.

Grandpa wanted me to continue his legacy, I said slowly. Not just preserve it, but build on it. The hardware stores are still profitable, Samantha noted…