Chapter 16 - What I had accepted
I spent a long time angry that my parents used money to influence me.
Then Rebecca asked:
“Had they ever attached expectations before?”
I said:
“No.”
Then remembered.
The down-payment loan came after Victoria said:
“You’ll live close enough that we can help.”
I bought twelve minutes from their house.
Preschool support came with:
“We want to see her regularly.”
I agreed.
Christmas gifts often arrived with invitations.
Vacations.
Memberships.
Help.
None inherently manipulative.
I had benefited gladly.
The system became visible only when I wanted a boundary they disliked.
That did not make every prior gift sinister.
It meant I needed more independence.
So I accelerated repayment of the family loan after refinancing.
Not dramatically.
No magical financial windfall.
A conventional mortgage refinance and sale of some company stock from my job.
May you like
The rate was worse.
The freedom felt better.
