Jake looked down, avoiding my eyes. Perhaps he realized how unfair their demand was, how manipulative and hurtful their words had been. But the damage was already done. The trust between us felt irreparably broken.

“I’m sorry, but my answer is still no,” I said firmly. “I won’t give up my home. If you’re truly in need, we can discuss other ways I might help, but this isn’t one of them.”

Sarah opened her mouth to speak, but I raised my hand to stop her. “Let’s leave it here for tonight,” I said. “I need some time to process all of this.”

With that, I grabbed my coat and walked out the door, my heart heavy with a mix of emotions. As I drove back to my house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss, not just of my family’s support but of the illusion that they genuinely cared about my happiness as much as I cared about theirs.