Chapter 22 - THE RELATIVES CHOOSE
Matthew repaid nothing because most money had been genuine gifts for education.
I did not ask.
He stopped speaking to Daniel for a year.
Aunt Susan stayed in contact with me.
Cousin Robert called me a narcissist online.
I blocked him.
Two relatives returned supplementary cards voluntarily.
One asked whether already-booked airfare would still be paid.
I said yes.
Commitments mattered.
Family did not divide into saints and parasites.
Some had no idea.
Some knew enough not to ask.
Some believed Daniel was wealthy.
Some assumed I enjoyed paying.
One cousin, Claire, said:
“You always acted like it was nothing.”
She was right.
I had made money look consequence-free because I wanted to appear generous without vulnerability.
If I said:
This is a lot.
Then they might see giving cost me something.
So I smiled.
“Of course.”
“Happy to.”
“No problem.”
May you like
Then quietly resented being treated like it was no problem.
Another mistake.
