0:00
imagine a world where the people who are
0:01
supposed to protect you to love you
0:03
unconditionally actively choose to
0:05
ignore the torment inflicted upon you by
0:07
your own flesh and blood a world where
0:10
your golden child sister consumed by an
0:13
inexplicable hatred tries to literally
0:15
kill you and your parents still see
0:17
nothing wrong with it for years I lived
0:20
in that world it was only much much
0:23
later when she did the truly unthinkable
0:25
that they finally finally saw her for
0:28
who she really was they punished her
0:30
severely and now she's begging me to
0:32
reconcile but I know her true motives
0:35
and my answer without a shadow of a
0:36
doubt is no my older sister Megan always
0:39
had this extreme almost pathological
0:41
hatred towards me it was a palpable
0:43
thing a dark cloud that followed me
0:45
through every room of our house i was
0:47
the outgoing type the kind of person who
0:49
could walk into a room full of strangers
0:51
and with a dumb joke or a silly anecdote
0:53
make an entire room erupt in laughter i
0:56
was energetic a bit clumsy and always
0:58
wore my heart on my sleeve meanwhile
1:01
Megan was the quintessential bookworm
1:03
quiet reserved the type to effortlessly
1:06
ace every exam without even cracking a
1:07
sweat she was academically brilliant
1:10
socially poised and seemed to glide
1:12
through life with an air of effortless
1:13
superiority and as you've probably
1:15
guessed by now she was my parents golden
1:17
child the chosen one the perfect
1:20
daughter and I was not especially to my
1:23
dad he was completely utterly wrapped
1:25
around her finger she was his precious
1:27
princess his little angel he'd
1:30
meticulously prepare her favorite meals
1:32
even if it meant cooking something
1:34
entirely separate for her he'd handle
1:36
her laundry ironing her clothes with an
1:38
almost ceremonial precision and he would
1:40
constantly relentlessly ask me to help
1:42
with her assignments her projects her
1:44
every whim i was expected to be her
1:47
personal assistant her unpaid servant
1:49
just because we were family a bond
1:51
apparently that only flowed one way i
1:54
never not once received the same
1:55
treatment in return my needs my desires
1:58
my very existence seemed to be an
1:59
afterthought at best so I guess in a
2:01
twisted way I share some blame for how
2:03
she turned out i constantly helped her
2:05
fulfilled her requests endured her
2:07
demands all without expecting anything
2:09
back i was a doormat a willing
2:11
accomplice to my own neglect but the
2:14
real problems the truly terrifying ones
2:16
only started when she began actively
2:18
tormenting me ridiculing me for our
2:20
differences for the very essence of who
2:21
I was she'd mock me relentlessly for
2:24
being chubbier than her for my slightly
2:26
awkward gate for my inability to be as
2:28
effortlessly graceful as she was and
2:30
when I didn't cry as much as she'd hoped
2:32
for when my tears didn't flow freely
2:34
enough to satisfy her sadistic desires
2:36
she resorted to other more insidious
2:38
methods it wasn't long before she was
2:39
sneaking into my room a shadowy figure
2:42
in the dead of night going through my
2:43
phone meticulously scrutinizing my
2:45
private messages with friends then with
2:48
a sickening glee she'd report every
2:50
perceived transgression every innocent
2:52
flirtation every teenage secret directly
2:55
to my dad when I confronted her my voice
2:58
trembling with a mixture of anger and
3:00
betrayal and complain to our parents
3:01
about my privacy being violated about
3:03
the invasion of my personal space they'd
3:06
just chuckle a dismissive sound that
3:08
echoed hollowly in my ears and say it
3:10
was harmless sisterly bonding
3:13
harmless i didn't even feel like I had a
3:15
home anymore because it never got better
3:17
only worse soon her antics escalated she
3:21
started hiding my sports equipment
3:22
before games leaving me scrambling
3:24
frantic almost missing crucial matches
3:26
she'd put disgusting stuff in my lunch
3:28
things that would make your stomach
3:29
churn but thankfully when she mixed
3:31
crushed eggshells into my sandwich a
3:33
sickening crunch waiting to happen I
3:35
noticed before biting into it when I
3:37
told dad hoping praying for some shred
3:39
of understanding or protection he simply
3:41
dismissed it as sisters bonding a normal
3:44
part of sibling rivalry and then the
3:46
bullying at school i was already
3:48
struggling a target for a group of mean
3:51
girls that time I was actually hoping
3:53
Megan would make fun of me for it in
3:55
front of our parents just so they'd know
3:57
about my suffering so they'd be forced
3:59
to acknowledge the pain I was in but
4:01
instead she joined forces with them
4:04
together they'd call me a fat losser or
4:06
a dumb jock their voices dripping with
4:09
contempt they'd encouraged the other
4:11
girls to spread rumors vicious lies
4:13
saying I was just a massive
4:14
disappointment a stain on the family
4:16
name at that point I struggled to
4:19
believe life was worth living the
4:21
constant barrage of insults the feeling
4:23
of being utterly worthless chipped away
4:25
at my soul during another fight over
4:27
something so so trivial I can't even
4:29
remember what it was she told me her
4:31
eyes cold and devoid of emotion that I
4:33
should just end my life that every
4:34
problem in her life every single
4:36
frustration every perceived slight was
4:38
because of me that one cut deep hearing
4:41
my own sister my own flesh and blood
4:43
basically wish me dead was devastating
4:46
it was a wound that would fester for
4:48
years since Gwen my mom worked late
4:51
shifts and dad seemed utterly
4:52
indifferent almost complicit he even
4:54
scolded me once claiming I must have
4:56
provoked her that I was somehow
4:58
responsible for her cruelty things just
5:00
kept getting worse in my sophomore year
5:03
there was this shocking incident an
5:05
incident that still sends shivers down
5:06
my spine megan tried putting bleach in
5:08
my shampoo bottle she poured so much
5:10
that if it wasn't for the acrid
5:12
unmistakable smell I wouldn't have
5:14
noticed i would have ended up in the
5:16
hospital my scalp burned my hair
5:18
destroyed perhaps even worse and guess
5:20
what my dad said about it he defended
5:22
her he said she was just pranking me
5:24
like hello pranking me with bleach
5:27
thankfully Gwen my mom eventually took
5:29
my side she saw the gravity of the
5:31
situation the chilling malice behind
5:33
Megan's actions she pointed out how
5:36
serious this was how dangerous she
5:38
threatened to involve the police if
5:40
Megan didn't stop this was a true wakeup
5:42
call for my sister a cold splash of
5:45
reality she'd never faced consequences
5:47
before never been held accountable for
5:49
her actions she was too shocked to even
5:51
do her usual manipulation tricks of
5:53
crying or screaming the silence from her
5:55
was deafening later Gwen came to talk to
5:57
me privately my mom admitted she'd
5:59
waited for years hoping Megan would grow
6:01
out of it hoping it was just a phase a
6:03
childish sibling rivalry but she was
6:06
slowly painfully realizing Megan was
6:08
becoming a truly nasty malicious person
6:11
she stroked my hair as I cried tears of
6:14
relief and pain mingling on my face and
6:16
apologized for not making my home feel
6:18
like well my home she apologized for
6:21
letting me endure such neglect i
6:23
confessed everything Megan had done over
6:25
the years the bullying the emotional
6:27
abuse the constant fear i even mentioned
6:29
the bullying at school the girls who
6:31
joined forces with my sister my mom's
6:34
face turned white a stark contrast to
6:36
her usual calm demeanor and she didn't
6:37
say anything she just hugged me super
6:39
tight a desperate comforting embrace
6:41
that spoke volumes the next day Gwen
6:44
spoke with the principal to ensure those
6:46
girls would face serious consequences if
6:47
they continued their bullying that
6:49
evening my mom signed me up for
6:51
kickboxing classes at a local gym
6:53
telling me with a determined glint in
6:54
her eye that I needed to learn to stand
6:56
up for myself against the bullies in my
6:58
life both inside and outside our home
7:00
i'll admit a sporty but insecure girl
7:03
like me trying to learn self-defense
7:04
probably seemed funny almost comical but
7:07
I was dedicated i poured all my pent up
7:09
frustration and anger into those classes
7:11
determined to become stronger both
7:13
physically and mentally until one day
7:15
when Megan was up to her usual tricks i
7:18
was in the shower the steam filling the
7:20
bathroom when Megan sneaked into my room
7:22
and grabbed it my allowance the money
7:25
I'd earned from babysitting the neighbor
7:27
kids the money I'd been saving up for
7:29
weeks meticulously counting every dollar
7:32
i caught her just as she was about to
7:33
head out with her friends her hand
7:35
already in her purse i demanded she
7:37
return my money my voice shaking with a
7:39
mixture of disbelief and anger but Megan
7:42
just laughed a cruel mocking sound
7:45
saying all I could do was cry to mommy
7:46
usually I would just feel sad or retreat
7:48
into myself or cry but something in me
7:51
snapped the kickboxing the years of
7:53
suppressed anger the constant disrespect
7:55
it all boiled to the surface anger pure
7:58
and unadulterated boiled in my blood i
8:00
slapped her hard across the face she was
8:04
stunned her eyes wide with shock and she
8:07
stumbled backward clutching her cheek in
8:09
that moment of surprise I grabbed my
8:11
money from her purse before shoving her
8:13
away a surge of defiant power coursing
8:15
through me megan started wailing
8:17
dramatically a theatrical performance
8:19
that was actually pretty hilarious given
8:21
the circumstances but Dad ever her
8:23
protector rushed out to comfort her and
8:26
find out what happened when he learned
8:28
I'd hit her he was shocked his face a
8:30
mask of disbelief he immediately
8:32
launched into a lecture about me being a
8:34
better role model about how I should
8:35
know better while Megan smirked watching
8:37
me get scolded basking in his attention
8:40
dad also complained to Gwen about my
8:42
behavior when she got home saying I
8:43
needed to be disciplined that I had gone
8:45
too far gwen calmly asked us both to
8:47
explain what happened her eyes moving
8:49
between us assessing the situation i
8:52
told her how Megan had stolen the money
8:53
I'd worked hard for the hours I'd spent
8:55
babysitting megan in turn tried
8:57
justifying it by saying she needed it
8:59
for concert tickets and that as her
9:00
sister I should help her out as if I
9:02
were her personal ATM gwen listened
9:05
patiently then turned to Megan she told
9:07
Megan she was lucky I only slapped her
9:09
for stealing because anyone else might
9:10
have pressed charges she continued her
9:13
voice firm and unwavering saying Megan
9:15
had no right to take others belongings
9:17
without permission megan hated that
9:19
response she threw a tantrum screaming
9:22
and stomping probably hoping dad would
9:24
back her up would swoop in and rescue
9:26
her from the consequences of her actions
9:29
but Gwen remained firm unyielding
9:32
when Megan realized she wasn't going to
9:34
get sympathy for being slapped she
9:35
screamed how much she hated me her face
9:37
contorted with rage and locked herself
9:39
in her room slamming the door with a
9:41
resounding thud after that incident
9:43
Megan started avoiding me she finally
9:45
understood she couldn't push me around
9:46
anymore that I wouldn't be her punching
9:48
bag and even Dad for the first time in
9:50
forever had stopped enabling her
9:52
behavior a small but significant shift
9:55
for the first time I felt like we were
9:56
on equal footing a fragile truce
9:58
established though she couldn't
10:00
physically hurt me anymore she still
10:02
threw verbal jabs when our parents
10:03
weren't around muttered insults under
10:05
her breath her attitude only worsened
10:08
with time she grew more bitter and
10:10
resentful each year a dark cloud of
10:12
animosity if I asked her something she'd
10:15
ignore me completely and walk away
10:17
muttering airhead or trash under her
10:19
breath if she needed to tell me
10:21
something she'd relay the message
10:23
through dad instead of speaking to me
10:24
directly when I questioned why Megan
10:27
couldn't just talk to me why she
10:28
resorted to such childish behavior he'd
10:30
urged me to be more understanding to
10:32
just let it go i couldn't tell if it was
10:35
just teenage angst or genuine
10:36
deep-seated hatred eventually dealing
10:38
with her constant hostility became
10:40
unbearable a suffocating weight on my
10:42
shoulders i desperately wanted to move
10:44
out to escape the toxic atmosphere she
10:46
created i repeatedly asked Dad to help
10:48
us have a sit down conversation to
10:50
mediate to resolve our issues but he
10:53
always refused saying he didn't want to
10:54
get involved when I asked his opinion on
10:56
why Megan treated me this way why she
10:58
harbored such animosity he'd simply
11:00
changed the subject his eyes glazing
11:02
over finally a beacon of hope appeared i
11:06
left for college with a volleyball
11:08
scholarship a ticket to freedom gwen
11:10
threw a party for me a joyous
11:12
celebration of my new chapter and even
11:14
Dad seemed proud a rare display of
11:16
affection megan however remained cold
11:19
and distant barely acknowledging my
11:21
achievement her face a mask of
11:22
indifference the day I left for college
11:24
was a mix of exhilarating excitement for
11:26
my future and profound relief to escape
11:28
that toxic household that suffocating
11:30
environment those first few months at
11:32
college were truly liberating i made
11:34
amazing friends people who saw me for
11:36
who I was and appreciated me i loved my
11:40
classes immersed myself in my studies
11:43
and started building a life away from
11:45
the shadow of my childhood
11:48
the constant dread of Megan's verbal
11:50
attacks lifted giving me this incredible
11:52
sense of freedom a lightness I hadn't
11:54
known was possible during junior year I
11:58
met my husband Tyler at a volleyball
11:59
tournament through mutual friends and we
12:01
hit it off immediately he was charming
12:04
kind and made me feel safe coming from a
12:07
traditional family having kids before
12:09
marriage wasn't really an option but
12:11
when we found out I was pregnant in our
12:13
senior year a joyful surprise we decided
12:15
to get married right after graduation
12:17
our wedding was small but perfect
12:19
intimate and filled with love our family
12:22
seemed happy for us and everything felt
12:24
right back then I truly believed Tyler
12:27
was my soulmate i'd always wanted a
12:30
faithful relationship one person to
12:32
build a life with to grow old with
12:35
despite getting attention from other
12:36
guys over the years I never considered
12:38
anything because I was genuinely happy
12:39
in my marriage tyler was my dream guy
12:42
and I never wanted to hurt him but later
12:43
I discovered he cheated twice during our
12:46
marriage once with a coworker in an on
12:49
andoff affair lasting nearly 2 years a
12:51
betrayal that chipped away at my trust
12:53
and another time with a college fling
12:55
during a business trip a fleeting moment
12:56
of weakness or so I told myself some
12:59
might call me naive and looking back I
13:02
can't completely disagree each time we
13:04
separated temporarily the pain was
13:06
immense but I eventually chose to
13:08
forgive him i didn't want our daughter
13:10
growing up in a broken home a fractured
13:12
family and truly believed we could work
13:14
through these issues that our love was
13:16
strong enough to overcome anything the
13:18
affair with his coworker happened when
13:20
we were still young and I chocked it up
13:21
to immaturity and poor judgment a
13:24
mistake made in the early days of our
13:25
marriage for a while things seemed to
13:27
improve though I could never fully trust
13:29
him again i tried setting aside my
13:31
doubts knowing that forgiveness meant
13:33
genuinely attempting to start fresh to
13:35
rebuild it had been 3 years since his
13:38
last betrayal and I felt confident in my
13:40
decision to give our marriage another
13:41
chance tyler seemed changed genuinely
13:44
remorseful and we were truly happy
13:46
planning our future together envisioning
13:48
a lifetime of shared moments and four
13:50
months ago my world imploded when Tyler
13:53
revealed he'd been having another
13:54
long-term affair and then the words that
13:57
shattered my universe he suggested our
13:59
daughter might not even be mine his
14:01
words hit me like a freight train a
14:03
physical blow i felt shock betrayal and
14:05
disbelief all at once a whirlwind of
14:07
agonizing emotions i could barely
14:09
process what he was saying my mind
14:11
reeling in a days I managed to ask why
14:14
he kept such a massive secret how he
14:16
could do something so devastating so
14:18
utterly cruel his reaction was cold and
14:20
detached like he didn't even care about
14:22
the pain he was causing his vague
14:24
answers left me with more questions than
14:26
clarity it was surreal and crushing
14:29
facing this shattered trust and the
14:30
terrifying uncertainty about my own
14:32
family about the very foundation of my
14:34
life I kept pressing Tyler for the truth
14:36
for the full unvarnished story because I
14:38
deserve to know who really fathered the
14:40
child I'd been raising since birth the
14:42
child I adored finally he admitted it it
14:45
was Megan my jaw dropped in shock as I
14:48
asked what the hell he meant my voice
14:50
barely a whisper he explained that he
14:52
and Megan had become friendly when I
14:54
introduced him to my family he had
14:56
stayed with us during spring break our
14:57
senior year megan typically frosty
15:00
toward me was warm and friendly with him
15:02
which at the time made me happy because
15:04
I didn't want Tyler feeling unwelcome in
15:06
my family tyler wanted my family's
15:08
approval so he spent lots of time with
15:10
my dad whenever possible trying to
15:11
ingratiate himself he noticed the
15:14
tension between Megan and me and asked
15:16
about it i foolishly opened up about our
15:19
strange strained relationship and
15:21
explained we might never fix things
15:22
because of her unresolved hostility
15:24
tyler seemed to understand but started
15:26
including Megan in our plans hoping it
15:28
would help us reconnect hoping to bridge
15:30
the gap between us whenever we planned
15:32
dinner out he invited Megan and we'd eat
15:34
wherever she preferred her every whim
15:36
catered to during this time Megan and I
15:39
exchanged a few civil words which was
15:41
progress compared to her usual silent
15:43
treatment i remember Tyler and Megan
15:45
hanging out playing video games together
15:47
laughing but I didn't think much of it
15:49
of Tyler told me that one night Megan
15:51
confided in him about her struggles with
15:53
dating feeling vulnerable isolated she
15:56
developed a friendship with him a bond
15:58
that grew stronger he mentioned she
16:00
would casually flirt when I wasn't
16:02
around subtle glances lingering touches
16:05
and eventually things escalated before
16:07
he realized what was happening the image
16:09
of my husband and sister together
16:11
intertwined made me physically ill a
16:14
wave of nausea washing over me tyler
16:17
confessed he felt guilty afterward and
16:19
distanced himself which in hindsight
16:21
matched his sudden food poisoning excuse
16:23
to skip our family dinner that weekend
16:26
though I tried convincing him to join us
16:28
he insisted on staying at his dorm
16:30
claiming he was too sick to move when we
16:32
reunited after spring break he seemed
16:35
normal so I didn't question anything 3
16:37
weeks later we discovered I was pregnant
16:40
tyler admitted he didn't know if the
16:42
child was his or Megan's and with no way
16:44
to be sure then he chose to stay with me
16:46
knowing I was the more stable option the
16:48
safer bet that's why we rushed into
16:50
marriage my entire world collapsed the
16:53
daughter I adored the child I had
16:55
nurtured and loved with every fiber of
16:56
my being might not even be mine
17:00
i asked Tyler if he'd been sleeping with
17:02
Megan recently and he slowly nodded his
17:04
eyes filled with a pathetic remorse he
17:07
revealed they'd always maintained
17:08
contact because their connection was
17:10
undeniable a twisted bond forged in
17:12
betrayal they'd sneak off to hotels
17:15
lying about working late about business
17:17
trips he admitted that most of his guys
17:20
trips were actually weekends with her i
17:23
asked why he married me if he wanted my
17:24
sister if he loved her tyler said he
17:27
didn't want to be the one to end our
17:29
marriage he saw me as a wonderful mother
17:31
to our daughter and decided to stay in
17:34
his words he made a mistake and couldn't
17:36
figure out how to stop i told Tyler I
17:38
appreciated his honesty but that I was
17:40
packing my things and leaving he started
17:42
crying begging forgiveness expecting me
17:45
to scream and rage to throw things
17:47
instead I calmly gathered my essentials
17:50
my hands steady despite the tremor in my
17:52
soul tyler insisted that if I loved him
17:55
I should fight for our relationship that
17:57
every marriage has problems that we
17:58
could work through this when he realized
18:01
I wasn't budging that my resolve was
18:03
ironclad he switched tactics saying our
18:06
daughter would suffer from a divorce
18:07
that children need intact homes i
18:10
reminded him my voice devoid of emotion
18:12
that I might not even be her biological
18:14
parent which made him cry harder and
18:17
accused me of being heartless it seemed
18:19
like he genuinely believed nothing could
18:21
make me walk away that I would always
18:23
forgive him maybe that was partly my
18:25
fault for forgiving his previous
18:26
betrayals while I did love him it felt
18:29
more like an attachment based on
18:31
thinking we had a child together and our
18:32
history since college tyler kept
18:35
insisting we could fix things but I
18:37
couldn't believe him anymore and had no
18:39
patience left trust was destroyed
18:41
irrevocably his words rang hollow
18:44
meaningless even if I forgave him I
18:47
could never forget he slept with my
18:48
sister i've always believed in second
18:51
chances because nobody's perfect but
18:53
this crossed every possible line this
18:55
was a betrayal of the deepest kind i
18:57
left him sobbing on our porch and
18:59
checked into a hotel the quiet anonymity
19:01
a welcome escape the next day I went
19:03
straight to my parents house and
19:05
revealed everything about Tyler's affair
19:06
with Megan explaining how they'd been
19:08
secretly seeing each other for years how
19:10
he was the biological father of my
19:12
daughter the horror on their faces was
19:14
unmistakable a mixture of shock disgust
19:17
and disbelief true to form my dad
19:20
initially tried defending Megan
19:22
insisting his little girl would never do
19:24
such a thing to her own sister to her
19:26
own family determined to expose the
19:28
truth to shatter their illusions I asked
19:31
my parents to stay quiet while I called
19:33
Megan in front of them i instructed them
19:35
not to speak so I could catch Megan off
19:37
guard making her think we were talking
19:39
privately when Megan answered I
19:42
confronted her about the affair my voice
19:44
steady despite the tremor in my hands at
19:47
first she vehemently denied everything
19:49
refusing any responsibility her voice
19:51
shrill with indignation
19:53
but when I mentioned that Tyler had
19:55
confessed everything that the truth was
19:57
out she immediately switched tactics she
20:00
started blaming him calling him weak and
20:02
pathetic she claimed it wasn't her fault
20:04
if men were attracted to her and that
20:06
she was the prettier sister anyway her
20:08
arrogance still shining through i firmly
20:10
told her I was going to tell everyone
20:11
what she'd done that her secret would be
20:13
public when Megan laughed a brittle
20:16
dismissive sound saying nobody would
20:17
believe me because she was the favorite
20:19
child i scoffed at her arrogance and
20:21
thanked her for confirming everything
20:23
letting her know with a chilling
20:24
satisfaction that our parents had heard
20:26
every single word megan went silent then
20:28
started stammering trying to explain
20:30
herself to salvage her rapidly crumbling
20:32
image my father still in shock his face
20:35
pale demanded an explanation from Megan
20:37
she stumbled through weak excuses
20:39
blaming everyone but herself desperately
20:41
trying to shift responsibility to Tyler
20:44
to anyone but her i could see my dad who
20:46
had once shielded his precious daughter
20:48
from all consequences now experiencing a
20:50
mix of heartbreak and fury his illusions
20:52
shattered in that charged moment I felt
20:54
a strange vindication for years I'd
20:56
endured Megan's cruelty her endless
20:58
torment now the truth was exposed and
21:00
our roles were reversed as Megan's
21:02
excuses faltered my mother Gwen usually
21:05
reserved in her reactions couldn't hide
21:06
her profound disappointment she asked
21:09
for the phone her hand trembling
21:10
slightly and began speaking to Megan
21:13
"megan," Gwen started her voice heavy
21:15
with disappointment a quiet power behind
21:18
her words "what you've done isn't just
21:20
betraying your sister but betraying this
21:22
entire family you slept with your
21:24
sister's husband and continued the
21:26
affair even after they were married your
21:28
actions have serious consequences and
21:30
have permanently destroyed the trust we
21:32
had in you we raised both of you to
21:35
value family loyalty and respect what
21:38
you've shown today goes against
21:39
everything we tried to teach you she
21:41
paused letting her words sink in letting
21:44
the weight of her disappointment settle
21:47
your disregard for your sister's
21:48
feelings and complete lack of respect
21:50
for her marriage is inexcusable you've
21:53
not only hurt her but torn apart what
21:55
bonds our family had left your father
21:57
and I share responsibility for what
21:59
you've become for enabling your behavior
22:01
but we won't tolerate this anymore from
22:04
today you're cut off from the trust fund
22:06
I established for you you'll need to
22:08
figure out how to pay your graduate
22:09
school tuition yourself i'm also
22:11
stopping payments on your apartment do
22:13
you think sleeping with married men
22:14
makes you sophisticated let's see how
22:16
you manage without my financial support
22:18
throughout this I remained composed a
22:20
strange calm settling over me though I
22:23
initially wanted to scream at Megan to
22:25
unleash years of pentup rage watching my
22:27
Gwen finally hold her accountable
22:28
finally see her for who she was was the
22:33
i had exposed her true nature and
22:35
clearly she'd underestimated the
22:38
my father despite Megan's continued
22:40
protests and desperate pleas attempted
22:42
to justify her actions to find some
22:44
shred of an excuse but my Gwen firmly
22:46
ended the call shutting down Megan's
22:48
excuses her manipulations afterward my
22:51
dad approached and hugged me it had been
22:53
forever since we shared such a moment a
22:55
genuine embrace but in that hug in that
22:58
quiet embrace was an unspoken apology
23:00
and support amid our family crisis he
23:03
apologized for not believing me all
23:05
these years for his blindness for his
23:08
favoritism my teenage self the one who
23:11
longed for his approval could never have
23:13
imagined this moment being vindicated
23:15
and embraced by my father following this
23:18
my Gwen helped me find a divorce
23:19
attorney tyler and his lawyer tried
23:21
playing dirty asking for joint custody
23:23
despite everything despite his blatant
23:25
betrayals but his affair worked strongly
23:27
in my favor a powerful weapon in my
23:29
arsenal we also completed a paternity
23:31
test confirming with a crushing finality
23:34
that Megan was indeed my daughter's
23:36
biological mother that news hurt even
23:38
worse than discovering Tyler's cheating
23:41
it was a fresh wound a deeper betrayal i
23:44
was furious that the daughter I'd loved
23:45
and raised the child I considered my own
23:48
wasn't biologically mine still I stayed
23:51
strong my resolve unwavering tyler
23:53
begged me to maintain a relationship
23:55
with our daughter arguing she shouldn't
23:57
suffer for the situation that she needed
23:59
me but I couldn't handle seeing her she
24:02
reminded me too much of Megan of the
24:04
betrayal of the lies and I hated that
24:06
feeling after finalizing my divorce I
24:10
felt incredibly liberated a heavy weight
24:12
lifted from my shoulders i moved into my
24:14
own apartment a small but beautiful
24:16
space that was entirely mine it was
24:19
strange living alone since I'd married
24:20
young and never experienced true
24:21
independence never had a chance to
24:23
discover who I was outside of a
24:25
relationship however my naturally
24:27
adaptable nature helped me quickly
24:29
adjust to this new lifestyle and I
24:30
genuinely enjoyed it savoring every
24:32
moment of newfound freedom three weeks
24:34
ago my Gwen called her voice firm and
24:36
resolute saying she was revising her
24:38
will because she didn't want to leave
24:40
anything to Megan my mom is incredibly
24:42
stubborn and once she decided to cut
24:44
Megan out of her life that was it no
24:47
turning back megan tried reaching our
24:50
parents repeatedly sending desperate
24:51
texts leaving voicemails and even showed
24:53
up at their house pleading for
24:55
forgiveness for a second chance but they
24:57
refused to let her in even my dad who
24:59
typically caved to Megan's manipulation
25:01
who always protected her seemed finished
25:03
with her though it must have been
25:05
hardest for him his golden child had
25:07
tarnished herself beyond repair megan
25:09
never texted me to apologize never
25:11
showed any remorse confirming she didn't
25:13
regret her actions she was just upset
25:16
about losing our parents' financial
25:17
support about losing her comfortable
25:19
life gwen told me she planned to leave
25:20
everything to me ensuring Megan couldn't
25:22
contest it later she would leave Megan
25:24
exactly $10 a symbolic gesture of her
25:27
complete disinheritance
25:29
i was stunned my mom had built a
25:31
successful business throughout her life
25:33
a testament to her hard work and
25:35
determination between her company
25:37
properties investments and insurance
25:39
policies the total came to nearly $2.5
25:41
million the only condition was that if
25:43
Gwen passed before dad he would continue
25:45
living in their house though ownership
25:47
would transfer to me i had no issue with
25:49
this arrangement as I wanted to care for
25:51
dad in his later years to ensure his
25:53
comfort and well-being somehow Megan
25:56
discovered this development and unable
25:58
to reach our parents unable to
26:00
manipulate them she called me yesterday
26:02
attempting reconciliation her voice
26:04
dripping with false sincerity she
26:06
explained she was struggling with grad
26:08
school expenses that her life was
26:10
falling apart and that after Tyler
26:12
learned he was the biological father
26:14
he'd beenounding her for childare help
26:16
for financial support
26:18
she claimed she had no money and was
26:19
desperately searching for part-time work
26:21
but couldn't find anything suitable
26:23
playing the victim she begged me to
26:25
mediate with our parents for a fresh
26:26
start saying she desperately needed my
26:28
help that I was her only hope i laughed
26:31
i actually laughed in her face and then
26:34
my voice cold and firm i told her I was
26:36
done with her forever i reminded her she
26:38
should have considered the consequences
26:39
before sleeping with my husband and
26:41
becoming pregnant megan argued I was
26:43
being unfair and that Tyler deserved
26:45
equal blame which to be fair I agreed
26:47
with i reminded her I divorced him
26:49
making him her problem now she shouldn't
26:51
call me complaining about him or their
26:53
child since these were the direct
26:54
results of her own actions her own
26:56
choices megan started raising her voice
26:59
her desperation turning to anger but I
27:01
cut her off my voice sharp reminding her
27:04
she was no longer daddy's favorite no
27:06
longer the golden child she was the
27:08
family disgrace the one who slept with
27:10
her sister's husband at that point Megan
27:12
broke down crying truly crying telling
27:15
me how everyone including our extended
27:17
family and friends had turned against
27:19
her how she was completely alone while
27:22
this was true and a part of me felt a
27:23
flicker of something it wasn't my
27:25
concern anymore i told her we were
27:28
finished that our relationship was
27:29
irrevocably broken and that she should
27:31
never contact me again ever since I no
27:34
longer considered her my sister since
27:37
then I've replayed our conversation
27:38
repeatedly despite my hatred for my
27:41
sister despite all the pain she
27:42
inflicted I'd never heard her cry like
27:44
that at least not since we were children
27:47
i won't lie it did affect me seeing her
27:49
so desperate so utterly broken so I
27:52
guess I'm here asking if I should talk
27:54
to our parents about her if I should try
27:56
to soften their stance to mediate for
27:58
her or would I be the fool the ultimate
28:01
if I don't for letting her back into our
28:03
lives for allowing her to manipulate me
28:06
again voice over hi everyone many of you
28:08
have been asking why I no longer have
28:10
contact with my daughter Emma and some
28:12
have even called me heartless i need to
28:14
explain to clarify my position i'm not
28:17
comfortable raising a child who isn't
28:18
biologically mine under these specific
28:20
incredibly painful circumstances
28:23
this isn't like adopting a child or
28:24
being a steparent where the relationship
28:26
is built on open knowledge and
28:27
acceptance from the start i was led to
28:30
believe Emma was my daughter my own
28:32
flesh and blood only to discover in the
28:34
most brutal way imaginable that she's
28:36
actually my sister's biological child
28:38
the product of a long-term affair with
28:40
my husband this revelation devastated me
28:43
shattered my world and I grieved for
28:45
weeks for the daughter I thought I had
28:47
for the life I thought I was living the
28:49
main reason I avoid contact with Emma is
28:50
that I don't want Tyler or Megan in my
28:52
life anymore period if I maintain a
28:54
relationship with their child they'll
28:56
find ways to stay connected to me to
28:57
intrude on my peace to pull me back into
28:59
their toxic orbit and I need space i
29:02
need to heal i need to sever all ties
29:05
you might think I'm selfish you might
29:07
judge me but I can't see her right now
29:09
at least not for the foreseeable future
29:11
i've started therapy to work through
29:13
these incredibly complex and painful
29:14
feelings to process the trauma to find a
29:17
way forward so we'll see how that goes
29:20
but for now this is my truth