more of the family’s financial weight than anyone knew.
But I wasn’t interested in humiliating them.
I closed the folder.
“I don’t want this to become a competition about who paid for what.”
Mom looked up.
“Then what do you want?”
I thought about it.
“I want my family to stop confusing my generosity with an obligation.”
Nobody interrupted.
“I will help when I choose to help. Not because I’m single. Not because I don’t have children. Not because you think I have more money than I know what to
