After I bought my new home outright, my relatives organized a housewarming party to celebrate. During dinner, my nephew Leo suddenly said, “You’re just a spinster living alone in a huge apartment. What do you need all that space for? I happen to be getting married soon. That’s a huge deal. You should transfer the place to me. I’ll even cover the transfer fee.” I was stunned. “Are you out of your mind?” His mother Linda said, “How can you be so ungrateful? Him using your place for his newlywed life is doing you a favor. It’ll bring you good luck! Other people would jump at the chance!” The son and mother were united against me. “Anyway, tomorrow’s a great day. Grab the property deed and come with us to transfer ownership!” I rejected them without hesitation and called them crazy. Who knew they would get so furious that they would storm into my brand-new apartment and go on a rampage, smashing everything in sight. They even said smugly, “We need to show you our family doesn’t get pushed around! Go ahead and call the police! What proof do you even have that it was us?” What they did not know was that I had installed surveillance cameras on the day I moved in.
View MoreUnder my relentless questioning, my parents finally admitted the truth.“You forced us! We had no other choice, and time was running out. We had to sell the place at a lower price!”My mom sounded like she was wronged.“We couldn’t just sit back and watch your cousin go to jail! Our place sold for eight hundred thousand, and Brad sold his for two hundred fifty thousand. That’s how we scraped together the million to pay you.”“Your place is worth over 1.2 million, and you sold it for eight hundred? Do you think I’m an idiot?”I was so furious I nearly had a heart attack.“Don’t think I’m that easy to fool! If all you earned was barely over a million, then where did Leo get the money for a wedding and a new place?”“The place is rented!” my dad blurted out in a panic.“After paying for the wedding, they could barely make ends meet, let alone buy a place!”Rented? So they were deceiving the bride’s family?No way. As the self-proclaimed bringer of justice, I had to make sure the
I packed up my things and moved out of my parents’ place, filed my resignation letter, and listed my damaged new home for sale with an agent.I had had enough. Whether or not I got compensation, when the lawsuit was over, I was leaving the city for good.No one could stop me from chasing my freedom!I was certain Brad’s family would not pay up, so I gathered all the materials, hired a lawyer, and was ready to press charges. However, on the very last night, I got a notification that a million had been deposited into my account.I was shocked.I double-checked my bank balance and stared at the sender’s name: Brad Jackson. He had actually paid!I was overjoyed. One million! That was enough to save me at least five years of hard work!Just as I was celebrating, I received a call from Brad. His voice was cold, but he was clearly seething. “Wendy, you got what you wanted. Now come to the police station and sign the settlement agreement.”After all the paperwork was finalized, Brad an
“One million? Wendy, are you out of your mind?” Brad’s voice cracked as he shouted in disbelief.“I wouldn’t be worth a million if I were dead! And you’re asking for that much? You greedy woman!”“You’re right. Your life isn’t worth a cent. But mine is!” There was smugness in my gaze as I looked at them.“I’ll give you three days to think about it. And just so we’re clear, I don’t do payment plans. If I don’t see the full million in three days, well, I guess you’ll have to enjoy your time in prison.”With that, I turned and walked away.That level of payback? Absolutely exhilarating.With my new home trashed beyond recognition, living there was no longer an option. I had no choice but to move back in with my parents.As expected, they wasted no time trying to persuade me to let it go.My dad’s tone was full of dramatic anguish.“My older brother died young and left behind only Brad to carry on the family name. I’ve watched him grow up, helped him get married, and raised his
At the police station, Brad still had the audacity to deny everything.“Officer, I had nothing to do with the mess in that apartment! My cousin went crazy and smashed everything herself. I was only breaking the door with the axe because I was worried she might hurt herself while locked inside. It was a desperate move!”Linda nodded fervently.“Yes, everything my husband said is true! My cousin has had mental issues since she was a child. Her parents can vouch for that. Just ask them!”The officers exchanged glances. Their expressions were a mix of skepticism and caution, but they turned to my parents for confirmation.My parents stayed silent but nodded in agreement.At that moment, whatever tiny shred of hope I still had crumbled completely.Fine. So be it.From that moment on, my parents were dead to me!I calmly pulled out my phone and presented the surveillance footage, along with audio of their conversation while hacking at the door.“Officer, I want to press charges aga
After tearing through every inch of my new home, Brad and his family marched up to my bedroom door. Brad was holding an axe.“Wendy, I suggest you open the door right now and sign the transfer papers, or don’t blame us for what happens next!”Even my parents came over to help him.“Wendy, come on, that’s enough. It’s just an apartment. It’s not like it’s worth that much. Just give it to Brad and his family. It’s not worth ruining family ties over something so small!”They stayed silent when Brad and his family were destroying my home, but they had the nerve to preach to me?What kind of parents were they? They did not feel like family, but more like enemies with whom I happened to share blood.All they cared about was Brad’s family. Fine. Let’s see just how selfless they really were!I deliberately raised my voice when I said, “Mom, Dad, don’t you have a few hundred thousand saved up for retirement? Why don’t you give it to Leo for his wedding? Since you care so much about Brad’
My mom stood up and tried to mediate.“Wendy, that’s enough. They’re family. We still have to see each other during the holidays. Let’s not turn things ugly.”“Oh, now you care about things getting ugly?” I shook off her hand and raised my voice at her. “Where was this concern when they were making things hard for me? Why didn’t you stand up for me when they were insulting me?”“Wendy, watch your tone with your mother!” my dad, usually quiet and reserved, suddenly yelled. “And Brad’s family isn’t wrong! Leo getting married is a big deal. What’s the harm in giving up a place? Do you really have to turn things ugly just to make a point?”I fell silent.I had always known what kind of people my parents were.If they had ever been a solid support for me, I would not have spent years unmarried, scrimping and saving just to buy a place of my own.Before moving in, I had left them a spare key and told them they could visit any time if they wanted to see me.And yet, they used that key
I hung up the phone without a second thought.It was a great day for moving. I was not about to let a bunch of nasty people ruin my mood.I focused on making the place feel like home: setting up the bed, cleaning every corner, decorating the living room. By the time I was done arranging everything, the sky had already turned dark.I collapsed onto the big bed in my bedroom. My mind was filled with nothing but dreams of the happy life ahead.A few days later, I came home from work. When I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of my parents sitting in the living room with Brad’s family. They were casually snacking on peanuts, chatting, and laughing like they owned the place.As soon as my mom saw me, she smiled and greeted me. “Oh, there you are, Miss Busybody! You’re so hard to catch these days. Your cousin’s family has been here all day, and we’re starving. Go whip up something to eat, will you?”I stormed into the living room.“Mom, Dad, how many times do I have to tell y
“Watch your mouth! My son is a golden boy! Even without a house or a car, women are throwing themselves at him!” Linda glared at me. Her tone was sharp and cutting. “No wonder you’re still single at your age. With that nasty attitude, what man could put up with you?”“Wow, your son must be a real catch if women are fighting over him. Yet somehow, he still needs my house to get married? Right, it makes total sense,” I retorted sarcastically.Linda’s face turned bright red from anger.“How can you be so ungrateful? Him using your house for his newlywed life is doing you a favor. It’ll bring you good luck! Other people would jump at the chance! Wendy, your sharp tongue won’t get you anywhere!”Brad slammed his hand on the table and stood up. His tone was deadly serious. “We’re not joking. This is serious! My son is the rightful heir of the family. Everything should revolve around him! Now that he’s getting married to carry on the family line, it’s a major event. All of us should be pa
When I bought my new apartment and finished the renovations, my cousin-in-law, Linda Jackson, who I had not heard from in years, suddenly tagged me in our family group chat.[Wendy, I heard you bought a new apartment! That’s such a big deal. You’ve got to treat the family to dinner to celebrate! By the way, there’s a new restaurant that just opened near my place. Your nephew and cousin really want to try it out. Let’s do it this weekend!]Then, my cousin, Brad Jackson, chimed in and tagged me too.[Wow, you’re really doing well, Wendy! If you can pay for an apartment in full, covering a simple dinner bill must be nothing for you.]I was speechless. All I could think of was, ‘What does me buying an apartment have to do with you? And you expect me to treat you? Are you kidding me?’I retorted right in the group chat.[Oh? Are you volunteering to help me move? Also, there’s a tradition of giving gifts to people who move into a new apartment. Nothing too much, five hundred dollars
When I bought my new apartment and finished the renovations, my cousin-in-law, Linda Jackson, who I had not heard from in years, suddenly tagged me in our family group chat.[Wendy, I heard you bought a new apartment! That’s such a big deal. You’ve got to treat the family to dinner to celebrate! By the way, there’s a new restaurant that just opened near my place. Your nephew and cousin really want to try it out. Let’s do it this weekend!]Then, my cousin, Brad Jackson, chimed in and tagged me too.[Wow, you’re really doing well, Wendy! If you can pay for an apartment in full, covering a simple dinner bill must be nothing for you.]I was speechless. All I could think of was, ‘What does me buying an apartment have to do with you? And you expect me to treat you? Are you kidding me?’I retorted right in the group chat.[Oh? Are you volunteering to help me move? Also, there’s a tradition of giving gifts to people who move into a new apartment. Nothing too much, five hundred dollars ...
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