Part 3Heir Apparent

She was right. I rarely called my mom.

She shipped me off to boarding school in the first grade and had me studying abroad before I was even eighteen. We saw each other a few times a year. We weren't close. Beyond a quick "I'm alive and well," I never knew what to say to her.

Ashley was a different story. Ever since my uncle had another kid—a boy, of course—my mom brought Ashley, then a senior in high school, to live with us. Since then, this house had been filled with their laughter and inside jokes.

Maybe I’m just emotionally detached, but their closeness never really bothered me. My mom supported me financially, giving me the freedom to pursue my master’s at an Ivy League school without worrying about loans. So I didn't care that she gave Ashley the warmth and attention she never gave me. I didn't even mind that she was footing the bill for Ashley’s entire life, including her new plan to study abroad.

As long as it didn’t affect me, I figured it was her money. If Ashley could keep my mom happy, fine. I was even okay with her getting a nice chunk of cash to start her life.

But now, seeing that post, I knew she wasn’t satisfied with a few hundred thousand. She wanted it all.

A comment from that thread echoed in my head: Your first priority should be getting her out of your house.

Damn right. This greedy parasite had to go. And she wasn't getting another dime.