When my grandmother gifted my brother and me equal investment portfolios as kids, she wanted to give us a strong start in life. But while I let mine grow, my brother cashed his out for a brand-new car. Now, years later, he and his girlfriend are at my door, demanding a share of my success.
I was only four years old when our grandmother made the investment, and my brother Liam was sixteen. Since we were too young to manage money, our father handled the accounts for us until we were old enough to take control.
Liam, being older, got access first. The moment he turned nineteen, he cashed out his entire portfolio—about $15,000—and bought himself a shiny new Honda. He was so proud of it, parading it around town, revving the engine to impress his friends, acting like he was on top of the world.
I was younger, which meant I had more time to think. I watched Liam burn through his money without a second thought, and 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 good chunk into Apple and other promising stocks and let it grow.
Years passed. My portfolio flourished, turning into something bigger than I had ever imagined. Meanwhile, Liam’s car was long gone, and so was his money.
I never rubbed it in his face. That wasn’t my style. But the difference between us became clear over time—I had wealth. He had regrets.
Liam never learned how to manage money. He lived paycheck to paycheck, never saving, always spending. And every time he hit a rough patch, I helped him out.
When he lost his job and fell behind on rent? I covered it. When his car broke down and he couldn’t afford repairs? I sent him money. When he got into trouble with an angry lender over an unpaid loan? I bailed him out.
Every time, he swore it was the last.
“Just this once, bro. I swear,” he’d say.
At first, I believed him. But after the third, fourth, and fifth time? I saw the pattern. He never changed.
One night, I confronted him. “You keep blowing through money. What’s your plan?”
Liam laughed, like I had asked him how to solve world hunger. “Plan? I just need 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 like a fool, I’d give in. Every time.
But then something happened that changed everything.
One night, there was a knock on my door. It was late, and I wasn’t expecting anyone. When I opened it, I found Liam’s girlfriend, Madison, standing there.
She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, wearing a smirk that sent warning bells through my head. Dressed sharply like she had just come from work, she looked confident. But her eyes held something else—arrogance.
“We need to talk,” she said, stepping inside before I could even respond.
I shut the door and turned to her. “Do we, though?”
She sighed dramatically. “Look, I’ll get straight to the point. You got way more than Liam. That’s not fair.”
I frowned. “He got the exact same amount as me. He just spent his.”
She scoffed. “You had Daddy invest yours. Liam didn’t get that chance.”
I folded my arms. “He could have. He chose not to.”
Madison’s smirk faded. “You’re seriously going to hoard all that money while your own brother struggles? Why don’t you share?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t force him to blow through fifteen grand.”
Her lips curled in frustration. “You’re being selfish. He’s family. He needs your help.”
“I’ve helped him plenty,” I shot back. “Rent, bills, bailing him out. But this? Not happening.”
She took a step closer, lowering her voice. “You’ll regret this.”
A slow burn of anger rose in my chest. “Get out.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I pointed to the door. “Leave. Before I throw you out.”
Her face twisted with rage, but she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
I thought that was the end of it.
I was wrong.
A week later, I found a letter in my mailbox. It looked official—thick, cream-colored paper, typed in formal language.
At first, I thought it was junk mail. Then I saw Liam’s name.
The letter claimed that our grandmother had “intended” for our investments to be shared equally, even in the future. Since Liam’s portfolio had been worth only $15,000 when he spent it, 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. They were bluffing.
And then I noticed something else. At the bottom of the letter, Madison had signed her name, listing herself as a legal professional.
I picked up my phone and called my lawyer.
“You’re going to love this,” I said, reading the letter out loud.
There was a long pause. Then he laughed. “Oh, this is rich.”
“She’s bluffing, right?”
“Oh, absolutely. But I’m going to check something. Give me a day.”
A few days later, my lawyer called back.
“Your brother’s girlfriend? Madison? She’s not a lawyer. She’s a legal secretary. But that’s not even the best part.” He chuckled. “She forged firm letterhead, inflated her job title, and made it seem like an official legal notice. That’s fraud.”
I blinked. “Wait—actual fraud?”
“Yep. And guess what? I forwarded it to her law firm. They fired her on the spot.”
I grinned. “Wow.”
“And trust me, that’s just the beginning. She could be in real legal trouble.”
The next morning, I stepped outside and stopped cold.
All four of my tires? Slashed.
Deep, jagged cuts, like someone had gone at them with a knife. I crouched down, running a finger along one of the slashes. The rubber was completely destroyed.
Any last bit of guilt I had? Gone.
I pulled out my phone and called the police.
An officer arrived within the hour. “You got any idea who might’ve done this?”
I let out a short laugh. “Oh, I have a very good idea.”
I gave them both names.
Later, my lawyer called. “Between the fraud, the vandalism, and the threats, they’re both in serious trouble.”
Liam and Madison thought they could take what was mine. Now, they were about to learn the hard way that actions have consequences.
