I cared for my mother through her final days, sacrificing everything to be by her side. Yet, when the will was read, I was left with nothing. The betrayal cut deep, but the truth behind her decision and the secrets that followed changed everything I thought I knew about my family—and myself.

I was driving toward my late mother’s house, the weight of her passing still heavy on my chest.

The funeral had been just last week, and now I was left to handle what remained—the hard, practical decisions that always seemed to fall on me.

Once again, I was the only rational person in our family, the one everyone relied on. It had been the same during Mom’s illness.

I stayed by her side through it all, feeding her, caring for her, making sure she wasn’t alone. I had no doubt she’d leave the house to me. Not Phoebe.

Phoebe was… complicated. She always had been. Unconventional, erratic—broken in a way that life had never quite fixed.

She couldn’t handle things the way I could. Despite how distant we were, I couldn’t stop myself from worrying about her. She was my younger sister, after all.

Beside me in the car, Dan sat silently, smelling faintly of alcohol. He’d promised me he stopped drinking, but the familiar smell told me otherwise. Honestly, I was close to my breaking point.

We pulled into the driveway, parking in front of Mom’s house. The sight of it sent a fresh pang through me. Standing outside was the lawyer I’d hired, his briefcase in hand, waiting.

“Hi,” I said to the lawyer as we got out of the car. “Why aren’t you inside?”

“It’s locked,” he replied, glancing at the house.

“Locked?” I repeated, frowning. “Phoebe isn’t here yet? She told me she’d get here early.”

I pulled my phone out, dialing her number. The call went straight to voicemail.

“Her phone’s off. Great,” I muttered, shoving it back into my pocket. I didn’t have the keys either.

Dan, standing behind me, shook his head. “Your sister, as usual. She needs a babysitter or something,” he said under his breath.

– Advertisement –

“She’ll be here soon,” I said, trying to stay calm. I shot him a firm look, daring him to say more.

Minutes later, I spotted Phoebe walking up the driveway. Her hair was messy, and her mascara streaked under her eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept.

“Rough night, huh?” I asked, crossing my arms.

Phoebe smirked weakly. “Is it that obvious?”

“Get yourself together. The lawyer’s waiting,” I said, motioning toward the house.

“Oh, please,” she scoffed, brushing past me. “We all know the house is going to you. You’re the perfect daughter, remember?”

I clenched my teeth, choosing not to react. I knew she was struggling. Mom’s death had hit her hard. People always said how much she looked like Mom.

Inside, we sat down as the lawyer began reading the will. His voice droned on until he said the words I wasn’t prepared for.

“The house and all assets go to Phoebe.”

“What?” I blurted out, staring at him. “What do you mean the house goes to Phoebe?”

“I’m just reading what’s written,” the lawyer said calmly.

“That’s not fair!” Dan erupted. “My wife was the only one who cared for their mother! She didn’t do anything!” He jabbed a finger toward Phoebe.

Phoebe shot up from her chair, her face crumbling, and ran outside.

“Dan!” I snapped at him.

“What? You know I’m right,” he said, his voice still heated.

I didn’t respond. Rolling my eyes, I got up and followed Phoebe outside.

Phoebe sat on the bench in the backyard, the place Mom always loved most. She looked tired, her shoulders hunched forward, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

“Sorry about Dan,” I said, breaking the silence as I walked up to her.

“It’s fine,” she replied, her voice flat. “He’s always like that. You should leave him.”

“I can’t,” I said, sitting beside her. “He’s my husband.”

Phoebe didn’t respond. She stared ahead, her expression blank. I hesitated, then spoke again. “Sell me the house,” I said.

“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’ll tear it down and build the house I’ve dreamed of. I thought Mom would leave it to me—”

“No,” she said, cutting me off.

“What do you mean, no?” I asked, frowning.

“I’m not selling the house to you. Mom left it to me,” she said, her voice rising.

“You didn’t do anything to deserve it!” I snapped, my emotions spilling over. “I cared for her. I fed her, bathed her, paid her bills. I was there when she couldn’t walk. And still, she gave it to you because you were her favorite!”

“You have everything, Katherine!” Phoebe shouted, standing now. “A good job, a husband—even if he’s terrible—and a million opportunities. You were even offered a job abroad! But you can’t make a choice! I have nothing. Just this house.”

“And I have responsibilities! Do you know why I didn’t take that job? Because I couldn’t leave you! You wouldn’t cope!”

“Get out!” Phoebe screamed, her face flushed. “I’m not giving you the house!”

“Then I’ll take it!” I shouted, storming away.

I wanted to forget the argument with Phoebe and leave her alone. She had been right; I did have everything.

I could buy another house if I wanted to. But Dan wouldn’t let it go. He kept insisting I contest the will, saying it wasn’t fair and that I deserved the house.

I couldn’t figure out why it mattered so much to him, but his persistence wore me down.

So, it began. Lawyers, endless discussions about the will, and meetings with Phoebe, who seemed completely indifferent to all of it. She shrugged her way through every meeting like none of it mattered.

One evening, just days before the court date, I stumbled upon something unexpected.

In Dan’s office, there was a stack of papers on his desk—overdue bills and debt notices.

My stomach dropped as I flipped through them. He was drowning in debt. I grabbed the pile and marched to the bedroom, where he was lying on the bed.

“Anything you want to explain?” I asked, holding up the papers, my voice sharp.

Dan sat up on the bed, his face pale. “Katherine, it’s all a misunderstanding,” he said quickly.

“A misunderstanding?” I repeated, my tone rising. “Do you see how much debt you have? Where did all this come from?”

He rubbed his hands over his face, avoiding my gaze. “We can fix this,” he said quietly.

“We?” I snapped. “Is that why you pushed me to fight Phoebe for the house? So we could sell it and pay off your debts?”

Dan’s expression changed, his frustration breaking through. “She doesn’t deserve it anyway!” he shouted. “She’s ruining our lives! You run to her every time she calls! And you didn’t even want to contest the will, even though you were the one who cared for your mother!”

I felt the anger boiling inside me. “Because Phoebe couldn’t be there!” I yelled back. “It was too much for her to see Mom like that. It tore her apart. Where did these debts come from, Dan?”

His shoulders sagged as he muttered, “Gambling.”

“Gambling?” I repeated, stunned.

“But if we sell the house,” he said quickly, “I’ll pay it all back. I’ll quit for good. This can fix everything.”

“Like you quit drinking?” I asked, my voice icy.

Dan didn’t answer. He looked at me, guilt written all over his face.

“You’re impossible,” I said, shaking my head. I turned and walked out of the room, grabbing my keys.

I drove to Mom’s house, the only place I wanted to be. I rang the doorbell, and Phoebe answered almost immediately.

Her expression was annoyed as she opened the door. “What?” she asked. “Did you come to persuade me again before the court date?”

“No,” I said, stepping inside as she moved aside. “Dan gambled away a ton of money.”

Phoebe’s face shifted, the irritation giving way to surprise. She didn’t say anything, just led me to the backyard. We sat on the bench, Mom’s favorite spot.

“We can sell the house and split the money,” Phoebe finally said after a moment of silence.

I shook my head. “No, I’m not doing that. Mom left the house to you, so it’s yours. She wanted you to have it.”

“But you were going to take it from me,” she said, her voice soft but accusatory.

I nodded, feeling the shame creep in. “That was an empty threat during the fight. Then Dan pushed me to go through with it, and now I know why.”

“You’re not paying off his debt?” Phoebe asked, studying me.

“No,” I said firmly. “The only person I’d sacrifice everything for is you.”

Phoebe was quiet, staring at the ground. After a moment, she spoke. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I’ve always felt like I was in your shadow. Katherine this, Katherine that. I was just the weird girl who made jokes.”

“Just like Mom,” I said, smiling.

“Yeah,” she agreed, a small smile forming.

“I know you couldn’t help because it was too painful for you to see her like that. Mom knew it too, which is why she always talked about you. She loved you more. That’s why I always felt like I was in your shadow,” I admitted.

Phoebe laughed softly. “Looks like Mom should’ve taken parenting lessons before having kids.”

I laughed with her.

“So, what will you do?” she asked after a pause.

“Leave Dan, give you money for your flower shop, and take that job abroad,” I said.

“Katherine,” Phoebe said, making me look at her.

“Yes?” I asked.

“I’ll be fine. And so will you,” she said.

“Yeah, I know,” I replied, pulling her into a tight hug.