Five days before my wedding, my brother left me with a serious shoulder injury. When I reached for help, Dad grabbed my phone. “Don’t call the police! Your brother has a future!” I stayed silent, but I remembered everything.

But instead of helping us enjoy the preparations, my family kept introducing new demands.

Dad expected me to cover additional expenses.

Evan complained about arrangements that didn’t suit him.

And both seemed to assume I would accommodate them simply because I always had.

Then, five days before the wedding, Evan came to my house asking for another $20,000.

I was in the garage organizing a few things when he arrived.

He looked irritated before the conversation even began.

“Claire, I need you to transfer some money.”

I turned toward him.

“How much?”

“Twenty thousand.”

I stared at him.

“Evan, I already helped you with your business expenses last month.”

“This is different.”

“You said that last time.”

He crossed his arms.

“Are you going to help me or not?”

I took a breath.

“No.”

He blinked.

“What?”

“I can’t keep financing your mistakes. You need to handle your own company’s finances.”