Our parents had always been there for Emily and me. They worked tirelessly, sacrificed everything, and when it came time for us to care for them in their old age, I thought it was only right that we step up.

But not Emily.

Emily always had a knack for taking what she wanted, and when it came to our parents’ assets, she was no different.

I had to leave town for a business trip, and, as always, I asked Emily to check on our parents. She rolled her eyes and grumbled, but begrudgingly agreed.

*”Fine. I’ll do it. Just stop nagging.”*

When I came back two weeks later, I headed straight to their house, eager to see them after being away. But when I walked in, everything was gone. The furniture, the pictures on the wall — even their clothes were missing.

I called Mom.

*”Honey, we’re at the nursing home… Emily said it was best for us,”* she said in a weak voice.

I felt my blood run cold. Emily had done **what?!**

Furious, I drove straight to her house. I was shaking with rage, but I tried to stay calm as I knocked on the door.

She opened it with that same smug grin she always wore.

*”What’s the problem?”* she asked, already holding a glass of wine.

*”You put them in a nursing home without consulting me? You *moved* them without any regard for what I wanted?!”*

She leaned back, unfazed.

*”Relax,”* she said, taking a sip. *”They’re fine. And besides, I have buyers lined up for the house. It’s time to move on.”*

I froze. There, right on the table, were the documents for the house listing. She wasn’t just making decisions about their future — she was making **money** off their absence.

A surge of anger pulsed through me, but I forced myself to **stay composed.**

I took a deep breath and smiled, a calm smile that hid everything brewing beneath the surface.

*”You’re right. You’ve done a lot. I’ll let you handle it all,”* I said, letting the words drip with false sweetness.

She gave a satisfied smirk.

*”Good. I knew you’d understand.”*

But what she didn’t know? I was **playing the long game.**

The next day, I quietly reached out to the nursing home. I didn’t let Emily know. After confirming Mom and Dad’s situation, I learned they were being charged an outrageous fee for their care. But here’s where things got interesting: I also found out that **Emily wasn’t paying the bills.**

I contacted the buyers of the house she had been trying to sell. I told them about the shady dealings, about how they had been dealing with a daughter who was more interested in cash than care.

When Emily thought she had the sale in the bag, I put a stop to it. The buyers backed out.

A few days later, I showed up at her place, papers in hand.

*”It’s time for a conversation, Emily.”*

I handed her the documents from the nursing home, showing her how she had been neglecting to pay for our parents’ care. I laid out the house listings and showed her how **I had the final say** in the matter.

Her face turned pale.

*”You didn’t…”* she whispered.

*”Oh, I did,”* I said, feeling the power shift. *”I made sure our parents were taken care of. You won’t be profiting off their estate any longer.”*

Emily had underestimated me. And now, she would have to deal with the consequences.

A week later, I visited our parents at the nursing home. They were happy, settled in with everything they needed.

And as for Emily? She spent her days trying to figure out how to crawl out of the mess she created. But this time, I was the one holding the cards.

Her greed had cost her everything.