“I’ve been sending you $1,500 a month for rent,” my grandfather said in front of everyone.but

The following weekend, Grandpa called for me, and I visited his home. Seated deep in the leather sofa of his study, Grandpa let out a long, heavy sigh the moment he saw my face.

“I’m sorry, Amanda. I should have uncovered the truth much earlier. This is my responsibility.”

His voice was thick with self-reproach.

“To be honest, it never occurred to me to doubt them at all. But when Tyler came to visit about a month ago and started talking about them, I began to sense something was off.”

Tyler was my mother’s younger brother, in other words, my uncle. Grandpa spoke with a bitter expression, recalling their conversation.

“Tyler told me they were invited to dinner at Karen’s place, and he felt like he was stepping into a movie star’s mansion. Apparently, my mother held a sort of show-off party, inviting Tyler’s family over to celebrate the completion of the kitchen remodel.”

“Tyler was puzzled as he told me: ‘The flooring was imported marble from Italy and the refrigerator was top-of-the-line commercial grade.’ I know Jonathan’s company is doing only moderately well, so where did all that money come from? Don’t tell me you have been secretly helping them out.”

Grandpa exhaled deeply, his face heavy with regret.

“The moment I heard Tyler’s words, a terrible suspicion flashed through my mind. I was giving help, yes, but that help was meant for you, Amanda. But what if the money wasn’t going to you but straight into their pockets?”

“Tyler’s description of their extravagant lifestyle would suddenly make perfect sense. That was the first time I realized the frightening possibility.”

“I should have confirmed things with you much sooner. I thought I was helping you, but instead I ended up letting you suffer for 5 years.”

I quietly shook my head.

“It’s not something you need to apologize for, Grandpa. If you hadn’t spoken up, I might have lived my whole life without ever knowing the truth. I’m grateful to you.”

And then, for the first time, I confessed something I had kept buried in my heart ever since the day I was thrown out of the house.

“I fought with everything I had. When I realized I couldn’t rely on my family, I decided I had no choice but to become strong. Strong enough to wear armor made of iron.”

“I worked day and night, studied business through the pain, and three years ago I started my own small consulting firm.”

Grandpa’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“At first, all I had were tiny jobs and there were so many times I thought I would break. But I never gave up. Now things are finally starting to move in the right direction. My clients are growing, and I’m financially stable enough that I don’t need anyone’s help anymore.”

I continued in a calm voice as I looked out the window.

“Of course I lost a lot along the way, but because of that hardship I was able to become truly independent. I gained a strength that belongs only to me, something no one can ever take away.”

When Grandpa finished listening to my words, he nodded deeply, his expression filled with both relief and pride.

“I see you’ve grown into a fine woman, Amanda. You truly have worked hard all on your own.”

His eyes glistened with faint tears, but his expression soon shifted into something far more severe.

“But that doesn’t mean Jonathan and Karen’s crimes can simply disappear. While you were struggling this much, they were stealing your money and living in luxury. This has gone far beyond the bounds of something that can be forgiven as a family matter.”

Grandpa spoke in a resolute voice.

“I intend to take formal legal action against them. This is a crime. They need to understand the weight of what they’ve done under the full force of the law.”

“However, this will also pull you into the fight. I cannot proceed without your consent. Amanda, tell me what you want.”

At his words I nodded quietly.

“I feel the same way, Grandpa. They need to face what they’ve done without looking away.”

Grandpa gave a heavy solemn nod.

“Very well then. We act at once. There is no need to show them mercy.”

With that, Grandpa reached into his coat without hesitation and pulled out his smartphone. He tapped the screen a few times and held it to his ear.

Even though it was a Sunday afternoon, the person on the other end picked up after just one ring.

“Cooper, it’s me. Sorry to disturb you on a holiday, but I need you to move quickly on an urgent case.”

Grandpa’s voice had transformed entirely. Gone was the warmth he showed me a moment ago. In its place was the cold, commanding tone of a businessman standing at the forefront of his field.

“Yes, it’s a lawsuit. The defendants are Jonathan Brooks and Karen Brooks. Yes, my daughter and her husband. Show no leniency whatsoever. The charges are embezzlement and fraud. The victim is my granddaughter Amanda. The amount totals $90,000.”

Looking straight at me, Grandpa continued issuing instructions to Cooper on the other end of the line, his voice calm but carrying a chilling edge.

“As evidence I already have the transfer records from my personal account, but we need definitive proof of what they used the money for. Begin the investigation immediately and trace every one of their financial assets. Bank transactions, credit card statements… yes, find the source of the funds for their home remodel and the new car. Gather overwhelming evidence so they cannot escape. Yes, proceed. Prepare the complaint as soon as possible and slap it directly onto their doorstep.”

When the call ended, Grandpa placed his smartphone on the table and spoke to me with unwavering conviction.

“Cooper is the lawyer I trust most. He’ll handle everything flawlessly. With this the die has been cast.”

And so our resolve began moving forward, given form through the law. About a month later, my smartphone began ringing violently.

The screen displayed three letters: MOM. I declined the call once, but it kept coming again and again with relentless persistence.

When I finally gathered the resolve to press the answer button, her sobbing and piercing voice exploded through the receiver.

“Amanda, please talk to Grandpa! Beg him to withdraw the lawsuit! We’re really sorry. We’re truly repenting. If this continues we’ll lose everything. Please, Amanda, I’m begging you!”

The moment I heard her desperate pleading and the word family, my heart became strangely cold and still. With a voice stripped of all emotion, sharp as ice, I said: “Repenting? Is that how someone who’s repenting behaves? What? Help you because we’re family? I can’t believe you can say that.”

“You’re not trembling because you regret what you did to me. You’re scared of losing your comfortable life and your social image, aren’t you?”

She fell silent for a second as if the truth had struck her hard, then rushed into rapid excuses.

“No, we really are reflecting on what we did. We can talk it through.”