I cared for my mother during her final days, sacrificing everything to be by her side. Yet when the will was read, I was left with nothing. The betrayal was profound, but the truth behind her decision and the secrets that followed changed everything I thought I knew about my family—and about myself.
I was driving to my late mother’s house, the weight of her passing still weighing on my chest.
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The funeral had been last week, and now it was time to deal with what was left: the hard, practical decisions that always seemed to fall on me.
Once again, I was the only rational person in the family, the one everyone trusted. The same thing had happened during Mom’s illness.
I stayed by her side throughout it all, watching over her, making sure she wasn’t alone. I had no doubt she’d leave the house to me. Not to Phoebe.
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Phoebe was… complicated. She always had been. Unconventional, erratic… broken in ways life had never quite fixed.
She couldn’t handle things the way I did. Despite how distant we were, I couldn’t stop worrying about her. After all, she was my little sister.
Next to me in the car, Dan sat silently, smelling faintly of alcohol. He’d promised me he’d stopped drinking, but the familiar scent told me otherwise. Honestly, I was close to my breaking point.
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We pulled into the driveway and parked in front of Mom’s house. Seeing her, I felt a new pang. Outside stood the lawyer I’d hired, briefcase in hand, waiting.
“Hi,” I said to the lawyer as we got out of the car. “Why aren’t you inside?”
“It’s closed,” he replied, looking toward the house.
“Closed?” I repeated, frowning. “Is Phoebe here yet? She told me she’d be here soon.”
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I took out my phone and dialed her number. The call went straight to voicemail.
“Her phone’s off. Great,” I muttered, putting it back in my pocket. I didn’t have my keys either.
Dan, who was standing behind me, shook his head. “Your sister, as usual. She needs a babysitter or something,” he said quietly.
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“It won’t be long,” I said, trying to remain calm. I gave him a firm look, challenging him to say anything else.
Minutes later, I saw Phoebe walking through the doorway. Her hair was messy and her mascara was smudged under her eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept.
“Rough night, huh?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Phoebe smiled weakly. “Is it that obvious?”
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“Get well. The lawyer is waiting,” I said, pointing toward the house.
“Oh, please,” he mocked, walking past me. “We all know the house is for you. You’re the perfect daughter, remember?”
I gritted my teeth and decided not to react. I knew she was struggling. Mom’s death had affected her greatly. People always said how much she looked like Mom.
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Inside, we sat down as the lawyer began reading the will. His voice boomed until he spoke the words I wasn’t ready for.
“The house and all the possessions are for Phoebe.”
“What?” I blurted out, staring at him. “What do you mean the house goes to Phoebe?”
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“I’m just reading what’s written,” the lawyer said calmly.
“That’s not fair!” Dan burst out. “My wife was the only one looking after her mother! She didn’t do anything.” He pointed a finger at Phoebe.
Phoebe got up from her chair, her face distraught, and ran out.
“Dan!” I snapped at him.
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“What? You know I’m right,” he said, his voice still heated.
I didn’t respond. I rolled my eyes, stood up, and followed Phoebe outside.
Phoebe was sitting on the patio bench, Mom’s favorite spot. She looked tired, her shoulders hunched and her hands fidgeting in her lap.
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“I’m sorry about Dan,” I said, breaking the silence as I approached her.
“It’s nothing,” she replied, her voice level. “It’s always like this. You should just leave it.”
“I can’t,” I said, sitting down next to her. “He’s my husband.”
Phoebe didn’t respond. She stared straight ahead, her gaze lost. I hesitated, then spoke again. “Sell me the house,” I said.
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“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 been dreaming of. I thought Mom would let me have it…”
“No,” she said, cutting me off.
“What do you mean no?” I asked, frowning.
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“I’m not going to sell you the house. Mom left it to me,” he said, raising his voice.
“You’ve done nothing to deserve it,” I spat, my emotions boiling over. “I took care of her. I fed her, I bathed her, I paid her bills. I was there when she couldn’t walk. And yet, she gave it to you because you were her favorite!”
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“You have everything, Katherine!” Phoebe shouted, now standing up. “A good job, a husband—even if he’s terrible—and a million opportunities. They even offered you a job abroad! But you can’t choose! 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 stand for it.”
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“Get out!” Phoebe shouted, her face flushed. “I’m not giving you the house!”
“Then I’ll do everything to keep her anyway!” I shouted, storming off.
I wanted to forget the argument with Phoebe and leave her alone. She’d been right; I had everything.
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I could buy another house if I wanted. But Dan wouldn’t allow it. He kept insisting I contest the will, saying it wasn’t fair and that I deserved the house.
I didn’t understand why he cared so much, but his insistence exhausted me.
That’s how it all began. Lawyers, endless arguments about the will, and meetings with Phoebe, who seemed completely indifferent to it all. She shrugged at every meeting as if none of it mattered.
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One night, a few days before my court date, I stumbled upon something unexpected.
In Dan’s office, there was a pile of papers on his desk: overdue bills and debt notices.
My stomach sank as I flipped through them. He was drowning in debt. I grabbed the stack and headed into the bedroom, where he was lying on the bed.
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“Do you want to explain something to me?” I asked, holding up the papers in a sharp voice.
Dan sat up in bed, his face pale. “Katherine, it was all a misunderstanding,” he said quickly.
“A misunderstanding?” I repeated, raising my voice. “See how much debt you have? Where did all this come from?”
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He ran his hands over his face, avoiding my gaze. “We can fix this,” he said quietly.
“Can we?” I snapped. “Is that why you pushed me and Phoebe into a fight over the house? So we could sell it and pay off your debts?”
Dan’s expression changed, and his frustration was evident. “She doesn’t deserve her anyway!” he yelled. “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 taking care of your mother!”
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I felt anger boiling inside me. “Because Phoebe couldn’t be there!” I yelled at him. “It was too much for her to see Mom like that. It tore her apart. Where did those debts come from, Dan?”
His shoulders slumped and he muttered, “From the game.”
“Bet?” I repeated, astonished.
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“But if we sell the house,” he said quickly, “I’ll give it all back. I’ll give it up forever. This can fix everything.”
“How did you say you’d stop drinking?” I asked, my voice icy.
Dan didn’t answer. He looked at me, guilt written all over his face.
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“You’re impossible,” I said, shaking my head. I turned and left the room, grabbing the keys.
I drove to Mom’s house, the only place I wanted to be. I rang the doorbell, and Phoebe answered almost immediately.
He opened the door with an annoyed expression. “What?” he asked. “Have you come to persuade me again before my court date?”
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“No,” I said, stepping in as she stepped back. “Dan gambled a lot of money.”
Phoebe’s face changed, irritation giving way to surprise. She said nothing, just led me to the yard. 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.
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I shook my head. “No, I’m not going to do that. Mom left the house to you, so it’s yours. She wanted you to have it.”
“But you were going to take it away from me,” he said, his voice soft but accusatory.
I nodded, feeling embarrassment wash over me. “It was an empty threat during the fight. Then Dan pushed me to do it, and now I know why.”
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“Aren’t you going to pay his debt?” Phoebe asked, studying me.
“No,” I said firmly. “The only person I’d sacrifice everything for is you.”
Phoebe remained silent, staring at the floor. After a moment, she spoke. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I always felt like I was in your shadow. Katherine this, Katherine that. I was just the weird girl who made jokes.”
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“Just like Mom,” I said, smiling.
“Yes,” she agreed, a small smile forming.
“I know you couldn’t help it 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.
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Phoebe laughed softly. “Sounds like Mom should have taken parenting classes before having kids.”
I laughed with her.
“So what are you going to do?” he asked after a pause.
“Leave Dan, give you money for your flower shop, and take that job abroad,” I said.
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“Katherine,” Phoebe said, making him look at her.
“Yes?” I asked.
“I’ll be fine. And so will you,” he said.
“Yes, I know,” I replied, pulling her into a tight hug.
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