Sitting opposite me, Daniel stared at the documents, his face pale.
« Mom… what is it? » he whispered.
« My house, » I said evenly, « is no longer part of your future plans. I will not tolerate manipulation. »
Olivia sneered. « That’s absurd. You’re reacting because of a misunderstanding. »
“No,” I replied calmly. “I react according to certain patterns. To the way you treat me when you think I won’t defend myself.”
Her confidence wavered. She turned to Daniel for support, but he was paralyzed.
« You were supposed to inherit this house, » she retorted sharply.
Daniel swallowed hard. « Mom… we didn’t want to… »
I raised my hand. « It’s not the intentions that are the problem. It’s the actions. »
Silence fell in the room. My heart raced, but for the first time in years, I felt grounded, as if I had found something I hadn’t realized I had lost.
« Is that all? » asked Daniel softly. « Are you excluding us? »
« No, » I said softly. « You did it yourselves. »
That’s when Olivia’s smile finally faded.
Once the initial shock had passed, Daniel put down the papers, his fingers trembling. « Mom… can we talk? » he asked. « Maybe we all made mistakes tonight. »
I agreed. « I’m willing to discuss it. But not if it starts with a feeling of entitlement. »
For the first time, her gaze softened, not through manipulation, but through genuine emotion. Perhaps regret. Perhaps understanding. Perhaps, finally, the realization that love is not something to be demanded like a debt, but something to be earned through respect.
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