My Sister Burned My House Down, Demanding I Give up My Inheritance to Fund Her Luxe Wedding – But She Didn’t See This Coming

That’s how I found out that Marissa and Brent had been on a casino tour and online poker sites. They blew through Mom’s money, whatever wedding gifts they had left, and even Brent’s retirement fund.

I hadn’t seen my estranged sister in over a year when I ran into her outside a gas station.

It was raining, and she was standing under the awning in a hoodie that barely fit, hair soaked, mascara bleeding down her cheeks.

She was clutching a soggy paper cup that held a few coins.

“Liza?” she croaked.

I didn’t recognize her at first. Her eyes were hollow, and her hands trembled.

Surprised, I pulled her aside into the gas station store.

She collapsed into sobs and told me everything.

Brent left her; she was homeless and owed over $80,000, with creditors hounding her. She had been sleeping in shelters and panhandling. She cried harder when she said she missed Mom; we all know why.

“I lost everything else gambling.

I messed it all up, and now I’m alone. I’m sorry, Liza. I really am.”

I stared at her, shaking with rage.

“You burned my house down.

You threatened my child. You made Mom homeless. Why should I help you?” was what I wanted to say.

I wanted her to know the trauma she caused, but instead, I said quietly:

“I’ll forgive you. But only if you change. No more lies, gambling, and fake lives.

If you’re serious, you’ll prove it.”

She agreed. “I’ll do anything,” she said.

So I gave her a chance. I offered her a job at the company where I worked in the human resources department.

It was an entry-level, temporary position with no handouts. It was a one-month probation position; one mistake, and she was out.

I know that was a huge risk on my part, especially after all she’d done.Continue reading…