After selling my flower shop, I finally had some breathing room — until my sister Lisa called, desperate. Her husband Rick’s business was failing, their mortgage overdue, and they needed $25,000. Despite my savings being modest, I lent it to them. Rick promised repayment, and for a while, I convinced myself I’d done the right thing.
Months turned into years. Trips, new purchases, and social media posts revealed they weren’t struggling — they were living it up. Repeated attempts to discuss repayment were ignored or met with vague excuses. I realized they had treated the money as a gift, not a loan, and I cut them out of my life.
Years later, Lisa reached out. She was divorcing Rick, who had hidden money from her and others. She admitted she’d been blind and manipulated. Soon, a check arrived for the full $25,000 plus interest. Money couldn’t undo the betrayal, but it allowed a small measure of closure.
Lisa gradually rejoined my life, helping at my workshops and showing consistent effort. Together, we built a support program for women recovering from toxic relationships or financial betrayal. We didn’t go back to our old dynamic — we created a stronger, more honest relationship built on growth, action, and resilience.