When our grandmother gave my brother and me investment portfolios as kids, she wanted to set us up for a secure future. It was her way of ensuring we had something to fall back on when we grew up. But while I let mine grow, my brother cashed his out for a flashy new car. Now, years later, he and his girlfriend are at my doorstep, demanding a share of my success.
I was just four years old when our grandmother gifted us the portfolios. My brother, Liam, was already sixteen. Our father managed the accounts until we were old enough to take over. Naturally, Liam got access first.
At nineteen, he withdrew every penny—around $15,000—and bought himself a brand-new Honda. He was so proud of it, revving the engine for his friends, driving around town like he was a celebrity.
Meanwhile, I was still a kid. But I watched. I saw how quickly his money disappeared. I knew I didn’t want to make the same mistake. So, when I turned eighteen, I asked Dad to help me invest wisely. Together, we put a chunk into Apple stocks and other smart investments and let it sit.
By the time I was in full control, my portfolio had grown into something incredible. Meanwhile, Liam’s car was long gone, along with his money.
I never rubbed it in. I wasn’t that kind of person. But the difference between us became clear. I had wealth. He had regrets.
Liam’s money habits never changed. He lived in the moment, spending recklessly. And every time he hit a rough patch, he turned to me.
When he lost his job and couldn’t make rent, I covered it. When his car broke down, I paid for repairs. When he got in trouble with an angry lender over an unpaid loan, I bailed him out.
Each time, he swore it was the last time.
“Just this once, bro. I promise,” he’d say.
I believed him. At first. But after the third, fourth, fifth time? I realized it was a cycle. He never learned.
One night, I decided to confront him.
“You keep blowing through money. What’s your plan?” I asked.
Liam laughed like I had asked him to solve world hunger. “Plan? I just need to get back on my feet. One big break, and I’m set.”
I sighed. “That’s what you always say.”
He grinned. “And you always help.”
That was the problem. I did. And he knew it.
I tried to stop. But then he’d call, desperate. “Just this once, I promise.”
And I’d give in. Every time.
But everything changed one evening when there was a knock on my door.
It was Liam’s girlfriend, Madison. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirking.
“We need to talk,” she said, walking past me without an invitation.
I shut the door and turned to face her. “Do we, though?”
She let out a dramatic sigh. “I’ll get straight to the point. You got way more than Liam. That’s not fair.”
I raised an eyebrow. “He got the same amount as me. He just spent his.”
She scoffed. “You had Daddy invest yours. Liam didn’t get that chance.”
“He had every chance. He just made a different choice.”
Madison’s smirk faded. “So you’re just going to hoard all that money while your own brother struggles?”
“I’ve helped him plenty,” I shot back. “Rent. Bills. Bailing him out. But this? No.”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You’ll regret this.”
A slow anger burned in my chest. “Get out.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I pointed to the door. “Leave. Before I throw you out.”
Her face twisted in rage, but she turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. I thought that was the end of it.
I was wrong.
A week later, a letter arrived in my mailbox. It looked official—thick, cream-colored paper, formal language. At first, I thought it was junk mail. Then I saw Liam’s name.
It claimed that our grandmother had “intended” for our investments to be shared equally, even in the future. Since Liam had spent his money early, I was “legally and morally obligated” to give him half of mine now.
Then came the threat.
“If you refuse, legal fees and fines will eat up your half anyway, and you’ll end up with nothing.”
I burst out laughing. It was ridiculous. And then I saw Madison’s signature at the bottom, listing herself as a legal professional.
She worked at a law firm, sure. But she was a legal secretary, not a lawyer.
I called my lawyer. “You’re going to love this,” I said, reading the letter aloud.
There was a long pause. Then he laughed. “Oh, this is rich. She’s bluffing. But let me check something.”
A few days later, my lawyer called back, barely holding back a chuckle. “This is even better than I thought. Madison forged details in the letter. She used fake letterhead, inflated her job title, and made it look like an official legal notice. That’s fraud.”
I blinked. “Wait—actual fraud?”
“Yep. And I forwarded it to her law firm.”
“What happened?”
“They fired her on the spot. And she might face real legal trouble.”
I shook my head. “She really thought she could fake a lawsuit?”
“She thought you were dumb enough to fall for it.”
I laughed. “Guess she learned the hard way.”
A week later, Liam showed up at my door looking exhausted. His usual cocky grin was gone. Instead, he looked… desperate.
“Hey, man,” he started. “Can we talk?”
Behind him, Madison stood with her arms crossed, seething.
“She lost her job,” Liam muttered.
I pretended to look surprised. “Oh, really? How shocking.”
His jaw tightened. “Come on, man. She messed up, okay? But we’re in a bad spot. She’s got debts—serious debts.”
I leaned against the doorframe. “And that’s my problem because…?”
He looked me in the eye. “I need help.”
I let out a short laugh. “You mean money.”
He exhaled sharply. “Yeah. A loan. Just to get us through.”
I shook my head. “Unbelievable. First, you try to scam me. Now, you’re begging?”
Madison scoffed. “Oh, come on. You have more than enough. You’re just being greedy.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Greedy? You literally tried to steal from me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Enjoy your blood money.”
I didn’t bother responding. I just shut the door in their faces.
The next morning, all four of my tires were slashed.
I called the police. When the officer arrived, he asked, “Any idea who might’ve done this?”
I let out a short laugh. “Oh, I have a very good idea.”
Then I called my lawyer.
“Between the fraud, the vandalism, and the threats, they’re both in serious trouble,” he said.
Good. I was done playing nice.
Liam and Madison thought they could take what was mine. Now, they were going to learn the hard way that actions have consequences.
