My mom placed her hand on the will and stared me straight in the eye: «You’re not getting a single cent!» «Alright,» I smiled. «Then don’t expect a dime from me.» I slowly put down my knife and fork, then stood up. That’s when the nightmare began….

I used to call that house my family, but now? It was nothing more than a black hole that had swallowed every ounce of my effort and love. When I got back to my apartment, I tossed my bag onto the couch, poured myself a glass of wine, and sank into the sofa. A long sigh escaped my lips.

I didn’t even have the energy to be angry anymore. Only exhaustion and weariness remained. Then, I opened my banking app.

$2,100 per month. That was how much I had been paying for them all these years. $1,500 for the mortgage.

$600 for utilities. Electricity. Water.

Internet. Maintenance. Not to mention all the extra expenses, Parker’s tuition, the expensive gifts my mother suggested during the holidays, the vacations they invited me on, only for me to end up paying for everything.

A wave of betrayal surged through me, burning hot and thick in my throat. I had poured everything into this family like a fool, while to them, I was nothing more than a walking wallet. I tapped the cancel recurring payments button.

The screen flashed, confirming the cancellation. I stared at the words, successfully canceled, and an unfamiliar sense of relief washed over me. It felt as if I had just severed an invisible chain that had bound me for years.

But I knew. They wouldn’t let this go easily. The first call came the next morning.

My mother’s number, I ignored it. The second call. The third.

The fourth. She didn’t give up. By the fifth, I silenced my phone and let it go to voicemail.

I made myself a cup of coffee, sat at the kitchen table, and checked my messages. Mom, Sophia, I can’t believe you did this, do you have any idea how much the house is struggling? Mom. Don’t be so selfish.

Family is supposed to help each other. Mom, call me back. I set my cup down, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I figured she had found out by now. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was my father.

I stared at the screen, feeling my heart sink. If it had been in the past, I would have answered immediately. But now? I knew he wasn’t calling to defend me.

I let it go to voicemail. A while later, I played the message. Dad.

Sophia. You need to reconsider. Your mother is very upset.

You can’t just cut ties over a small misunderstanding. We’re family. I let out a hollow laugh.

Family? If I was really family? Why hadn’t they ever stood by me? In the afternoon, Olivia called. I declined. A second later, her texts came in.

Olivia. Absolutely pathetic, Sophia. You’re such a petty and selfish person.

Olivia, do you really think you’re better than us? If you didn’t want to help you should’ve said so from the start instead of pretending to be the good one. Olivia. You’ve destroyed this family, congratulations.

I laughed. A dry, bitter laugh. Did they really believe, I was the one in the wrong? Then, Parker called.

This time, I answered. Me, what? Parker what the hell do you think you’re doing? Me, taking back what’s mine. Parker.

You’re disgusting, Sophia, you cut off support for mom and dad just because they didn’t leave you any inheritance, you’re nothing but a greedy leech. Me, this isn’t about money Parker, it’s about respect, something I never got from any of you. Parker you’re a venomous snake, you think you can abandon this family without consequences, just wait.

He hung up before I could say another word. A cold shiver ran down my spine. They weren’t going to stop.

I stared at my phone, then at my contact list. Each name, mom, dad, Olivia, Parker, glowed on the screen. The people who had relied on me their entire lives, only to turn on me the moment I stopped providing.

Not a single one of them regretted anything. Not a single one of them said. I’m sorry…