My sister, Emily, is on maternity leave. She’s been married for years, raising two children with her husband, James. The four of them live solely on his salary, which has left them in financial distress. They also rent an apartment. Emily constantly complained to me about their lack of money for basic necessities. She’d borrow from our mom or me, and neither of us refused her, knowing it was for the kids’ food.
My life with my husband, Michael, was different: we lived comfortably with good salaries. Michael’s wealthy parents even bought us an apartment. But Michael was always against me helping Emily, believing it wasn’t necessary to keep giving her money.
So, I secretly gave Emily and her kids small amounts. Michael and I have been married for six years. At first, we didn’t plan for children, wanting to enjoy life for ourselves. But now, our relationship is on the brink. We couldn’t conceive, and then Michael dropped a bombshell:
— No child, and I’ll find someone else. Someone who can be a mother.
We tried countless treatments and procedures, visiting the most expensive doctors, but nothing worked. I realized our only option was to find a woman willing to carry our child. I was terrified of entrusting such a process to a stranger, so I proposed the idea to Emily in exchange for an apartment.
— Are you serious? I barely survived two pregnancies. I’m done with that for nine months…
Emily refused my pleas, and we never revisited the topic. Our relationship stayed the same, and I continued slipping her some money.
At a private clinic, we found a wonderful woman who agreed to our proposal. We saved a lot, as the cost was far less than the value of our apartment. When the woman was four months pregnant, I learned Emily was expecting again. I was stunned. She’d sworn she was done having kids. When she asked for money again, I said no.
After that, we stopped talking. Once I stopped helping, her calls ceased. I was too busy preparing for my baby’s arrival to care.
Our newborn daughter didn’t seem to matter to our mom. But Emily’s son—the only grandson—melted her heart. James faced job troubles; during Emily’s frequent hospital stays over those nine months, he frustrated his boss with absences and unmet targets. Guess who the struggling, multi-child mother turned to? That’s right—her older sister, the “fool” with the bottomless wallet.
I’m fed up. She should’ve thought twice before having another child. Why should I support their family? If I didn’t have money, I wouldn’t have dared afford the luxury of three kids. Now even Mom’s pestering me, urging Michael and me to give Emily a home:
— Have a conscience! You have two apartments, and your sister has three kids in a rented place. Share, will you?
I get that they’re struggling, but I now have a daughter whose future I must secure. I know that, besides Michael and me, no one else truly cares about her. Every night, I think about my nephews and niece, and I feel sorry for them. I consider helping Emily, but I also realize this burden could weigh on me forever.
What should I do in this situation?
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