I asked when the wedding is and my daughter-in-law said： ＂We got married yesterday!＂

zeeshan

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Transcript

00:00:00When I picked up the phone to ask my son, Max, when his wedding would be,

00:00:04my daughter-in-law, Lena, looked me right in the eye and said with a chilling smile,

00:00:09Oh, we already got married yesterday. We only invited special people.

00:00:13The words hit me like a bucket of ice water.

00:00:16Special people.

00:00:18I, who for three years had paid their monthly rent of $500,

00:00:22bought every piece of furniture in their house,

00:00:25and filled their refrigerator when they had nothing to eat.

00:00:28I was not a special person.

00:00:31I stood there in the living room of my own house,

00:00:34holding the phone as if it weighed a thousand pounds,

00:00:37watching my son avoid my gaze while Lena made herself comfortable on the sofa I had bought for them.

00:00:43The pale pink dress I had picked out for her wedding hung uselessly in my closet,

00:00:48along with the new shoes and the illusion of being part of the most important day of my only son's life.

00:00:53I had spent $200 on that dress, thinking about how nice I would look in Max's wedding photos,

00:01:00photos in which I would never appear.

00:01:03For weeks, I had planned every detail.

00:01:06I had put money aside to give them $1,000 as a wedding gift.

00:01:10I had called my sister Diana in Chicago to tell her the good news.

00:01:15I had cleaned my house from top to bottom,

00:01:17thinking they might come celebrate with me after the ceremony.

00:01:20All of that collapsed in a second with those four poisoned words,

00:01:25only special people.

00:01:27Max finally lifted his gaze and said in a rehearsed-sounding voice,

00:01:31Mom, it was an intimate thing, very small, just the two of us and the witnesses.

00:01:39But I knew it was a lie.

00:01:41I saw the photos on social media.

00:01:43I saw Lena's parents proudly posing next to the bride and groom.

00:01:46I saw her siblings toasting with champagne.

00:01:50I saw Lena's white dress,

00:01:52which I had helped finance with the $800 I had given her last month for her personal expenses.

00:01:57I saw everything I wasn't supposed to see.

00:02:01A week later, exactly seven days after that humiliation,

00:02:05Lena called me with a completely different voice.

00:02:08She was no longer the confident woman who had excluded me from her wedding.

00:02:12Now she sounded desperate, almost pleading.

00:02:15Renate, the rent is overdue.

00:02:18The landlord is pressuring us and says,

00:02:21If we don't pay this week, he will kick us out.

00:02:23You forgot to make the transfer.

00:02:25Her voice trembled slightly, as if the world were ending.

00:02:29I was silent for a few seconds,

00:02:31remembering all the times I had run to the bank to make that transfer.

00:02:35All the times I had canceled my own plans to make sure they had a roof over their heads.

00:02:40All the times I had eaten beans and rice so I could give them money for their desires.

00:02:44And now, after they had excluded me from the most important moment of their lives,

00:02:49they had the audacity to call me as if nothing had happened.

00:02:54Lena, I said with a calm that surprised even me.

00:02:58Didn't I warn you that I only help special people?

00:03:00The silence on the other end of the line was so deep that I could hear my own heart beating.

00:03:08For the first time in years, it was not I who was trembling, but her.

00:03:12Renate, I don't understand, she stammered.

00:03:16We were always special to you.

00:03:18You're like a second mom to me.

00:03:19Lies.

00:03:21All lies.

00:03:23Wrapped in that sweet voice she only used when she needed something.

00:03:27The same voice she had used to ask me for money for the wedding dress,

00:03:31for the honeymoon, for the rings,

00:03:33which I had helped finance without knowing I would never see the ceremony where they were exchanged.

00:03:39For so many years, I had this constant feeling of walking on eggshells,

00:03:43weighing every word, every gesture, every gift,

00:03:46hoping to get a crumb of affection for my own son.

00:03:50I was the perfect mother, the obliging mother-in-law,

00:03:53the silent provider who never protested when they treated me like I was invisible.

00:03:57But that phrase, only special people,

00:04:01awakened something in me that had been dormant for far too long.

00:04:05I had calculated in my head how much money I had spent on them in those three years.

00:04:11Between rent, food, gifts, emergencies, and whims,

00:04:15it was over $20,000.

00:04:19$20,000 I had taken from my retirement,

00:04:22from my savings,

00:04:24from the money my late husband had left,

00:04:26so I could live my last years in peace.

00:04:29And what was all that for?

00:04:31To be treated like a stranger on my own son's wedding day?

00:04:34That night after I hung up,

00:04:36I sat on my bed and cried.

00:04:38But they weren't tears of sadness.

00:04:40They were tears of anger,

00:04:42of accumulated frustration,

00:04:44of years of silently endured humiliation.

00:04:48I cried for all the times they made me feel that my love was a burden,

00:04:52my presence a hindrance,

00:04:53my money the only thing I had to offer.

00:04:56I cried for the foolish mother I had been,

00:04:59for the woman who had lost herself trying to be indispensable

00:05:02to those who considered her dispensable.

00:05:05When I woke up the next morning,

00:05:08something inside me had changed.

00:05:10It was not just the pain of betrayal.

00:05:13It was something deeper, colder.

00:05:16I stood up and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror.

00:05:19The same tired eyes as always.

00:05:21The same wrinkles that told stories of years of giving love

00:05:25without getting it back.

00:05:26But there was something else in my gaze.

00:05:29A hardness I didn't recognize.

00:05:30A determination that had been buried under years of compliance.

00:05:35I went to the kitchen and made coffee,

00:05:37as I had every morning for 40 years.

00:05:39But this time,

00:05:40I didn't think about calling Max to ask how he had slept.

00:05:43I didn't check my phone in anticipation of a message from him

00:05:46apologizing for the previous day's humiliation.

00:05:49For the first time in a long time,

00:05:51I was my own first concern of the day.

00:05:54I sat at the table where I had so often planned surprises for them,

00:05:58counted bills for their expenses,

00:06:00and cried silently when they treated me with indifference.

00:06:02Now, this table would be a witness to something completely different.

00:06:07I took out my checkbook, my bank statements,

00:06:10and started to do the math.

00:06:12I wanted to see, in exact numbers,

00:06:14the extent of my own foolishness.

00:06:17Monthly rent of $500 multiplied by 36 months

00:06:21was $18,000.

00:06:23Food and supplies,

00:06:25approximately $200 a month,

00:06:27was another $7,200.

00:06:30Birthday gifts,

00:06:31Christmas gifts,

00:06:33anniversary gifts,

00:06:34at least $3,000.

00:06:36Lena's medical emergencies,

00:06:38$800.

00:06:40The car loan they never paid me back,

00:06:43$2,500.

00:06:45The air conditioner repair in their apartment,

00:06:48$600.

00:06:49The living room furniture,

00:06:51$1,200.

00:06:53$33,400.

00:06:55That was the exact sum of my generosity.

00:06:59$33,400 I had wasted from my husband's inheritance,

00:07:03from my pension,

00:07:04from the savings I had put aside penny by penny

00:07:06for decades of honest work.

00:07:08All that money thrown out the window

00:07:10to keep two adults comfortable

00:07:12who couldn't even pretend to respect me.

00:07:15The phone rang,

00:07:16and I saw Max's name on the screen.

00:07:19Normally, my heart would have pounded

00:07:20as I ran to answer,

00:07:22hoping he would finally apologize

00:07:23and explain that everything

00:07:24had been a misunderstanding.

00:07:26But this time,

00:07:27I let it ring once,

00:07:29twice,

00:07:30three times.

00:07:31Finally,

00:07:32it fell silent,

00:07:34and I continued drinking my coffee

00:07:35as if nothing had happened.

00:07:37Ten minutes later,

00:07:38it rang again.

00:07:39This time,

00:07:40it was Lena.

00:07:41I let it ring, too.

00:07:42Then a text came from Max.

00:07:44Mom, please answer.

00:07:46We need to talk.

00:07:47I deleted the message

00:07:49without replying.

00:07:50At two o'clock in the afternoon,

00:07:52I decided to go for a walk.

00:07:54I hadn't done that in months

00:07:55without a specific purpose,

00:07:57without an errand related to them.

00:07:59It was always the bank for transfers,

00:08:01the supermarket to buy them

00:08:02something they needed,

00:08:03the pharmacy for Lena's medications.

00:08:06Today,

00:08:07I went for a walk

00:08:08just because I wanted to.

00:08:11I walked past the park

00:08:12where I had often taken Max as a child.

00:08:15I remembered that sweet boy

00:08:16who hugged me tight

00:08:17and said I was the best mom in the world.

00:08:20When had he become this man

00:08:22who treated me like an ATM with feelings?

00:08:24When did I start confusing love with money?

00:08:27When did I start to believe

00:08:28I had to buy my own son's affection?

00:08:30At the bank,

00:08:33where I had so often made automatic transfers,

00:08:35I stopped in front of the door.

00:08:37The branch manager, Mr. Klein,

00:08:40saw me through the glass and waved.

00:08:42I had known him for years.

00:08:44He had processed every one of my transfers

00:08:46to Max and Lena.

00:08:48He had watched my account drain

00:08:50month after month to fill theirs.

00:08:52I went inside

00:08:53and walked directly to his office.

00:08:56Mr. Klein, I told him,

00:08:58I need to cancel the automatic transfers

00:09:00I have programmed.

00:09:01He looked at me, surprised.

00:09:04For three years,

00:09:05these transfers had been

00:09:06as regular as the sunrise.

00:09:08Are you sure, Mrs. Richter?

00:09:09Did something happen?

00:09:11His concern was genuine,

00:09:13more genuine than any interest

00:09:15Max had shown in me in recent months.

00:09:18What happened

00:09:19is that I finally opened my eyes,

00:09:22I replied.

00:09:23I want to cancel everything,

00:09:25and I also want information

00:09:27on how to protect my accounts.

00:09:29I don't want anyone else

00:09:30to have access to my money.

00:09:33While Mr. Klein processed

00:09:34the cancellations,

00:09:35my phone didn't stop ringing.

00:09:38Max, Lena, Max again.

00:09:40It was as if

00:09:41they had developed radar

00:09:43to detect when their source

00:09:44of income was in danger.

00:09:46I turned the phone off completely.

00:09:48Mrs. Richter,

00:09:50Mr. Klein said

00:09:50as he handed me the papers,

00:09:52I apologize for intruding,

00:09:53but in all these years,

00:09:55I have seen you be very generous

00:09:57with your family.

00:09:59I hope you are not being pressured

00:10:00to make these changes.

00:10:02His words touched me deeply.

00:10:04This man,

00:10:05who barely knew me

00:10:05beyond bank transactions,

00:10:07showed more genuine concern

00:10:09for my well-being

00:10:10than my own son.

00:10:11I'm not being pressured,

00:10:12Mr. Klein.

00:10:13On the contrary,

00:10:14I have finally stopped

00:10:15pressuring myself.

00:10:17When I left the bank,

00:10:18I felt strangely light,

00:10:20as if I had left

00:10:21an enormous burden

00:10:22in that office.

00:10:23For the first time in years,

00:10:25my money was entirely mine.

00:10:27I had no financial obligations

00:10:28to people who saw me

00:10:29as a resource

00:10:30instead of a person.

00:10:31I went home

00:10:32and thought about

00:10:33all the things

00:10:33I hadn't done

00:10:34to please Max and Lena.

00:10:36The trips I hadn't taken

00:10:37to save money for them,

00:10:38the friends I no longer saw

00:10:40because I was always available

00:10:41for their emergencies,

00:10:43the hobbies I had given up

00:10:44because every dollar

00:10:45I spent on myself

00:10:46was one dollar less

00:10:47for their needs.

00:10:49When I got home,

00:10:50I found three cars

00:10:51parked in front of my door,

00:10:52Max's, Lena's,

00:10:54and one I didn't recognize.

00:10:55I could see movement

00:10:56inside my house

00:10:57through the windows.

00:10:58My blood ran cold.

00:11:00They had keys.

00:11:01I had given them keys

00:11:02because I trusted them,

00:11:04because I thought

00:11:04they would one day

00:11:05take care of me

00:11:06just as I had taken care of them.

00:11:08I took a deep breath

00:11:09before opening the door.

00:11:11It was time

00:11:12for the first real confrontation

00:11:14of my new life.

00:11:15I opened the door

00:11:16to my house

00:11:17and saw a scene

00:11:18I will never forget.

00:11:20Max was sitting

00:11:21on my sofa

00:11:22with his head

00:11:23in his hands.

00:11:24Lena was pacing

00:11:25back and forth

00:11:26like a caged animal

00:11:27and an older man

00:11:28I didn't know

00:11:29was going through papers

00:11:30on my dining table.

00:11:32My papers,

00:11:33my personal documents.

00:11:36What is happening here?

00:11:38I asked

00:11:38in a voice

00:11:39that sounded louder

00:11:40than I expected.

00:11:41All three of them

00:11:42looked at me

00:11:43as if I were the intruder

00:11:44in my own house.

00:11:46Lena was the first

00:11:47to speak

00:11:48and her voice

00:11:49had that desperate urgency

00:11:50I had already heard

00:11:51on the phone.

00:11:52Renata,

00:11:53thank God you're here.

00:11:54We need to talk.

00:11:56Mr. Fisher

00:11:57is from the law firm

00:11:58we consulted

00:11:58about your situation.

00:12:00My situation?

00:12:01The question

00:12:02came out of my mouth

00:12:03with a calm

00:12:04that surprised me.

00:12:05What situation?

00:12:07I'm doing perfectly fine.

00:12:09Max finally lifted

00:12:10his head

00:12:10and looked at me

00:12:11with those eyes

00:12:12that once belonged

00:12:13to an innocent child

00:12:14and now only reflected

00:12:16financial panic.

00:12:18Mom,

00:12:19we went to the bank

00:12:20and they told us

00:12:20you canceled

00:12:21all the transfers.

00:12:23Mr. Klein explained

00:12:24that you also blocked

00:12:25our access

00:12:26to your accounts.

00:12:27We don't understand

00:12:28why you did that.

00:12:30Mr. Fisher,

00:12:31a man in his 50s

00:12:32in a gray suit

00:12:33and a smile

00:12:34that didn't inspire confidence,

00:12:36approached me

00:12:36with an outstretched hand.

00:12:38Mrs. Richter,

00:12:39I am Dr. Fisher,

00:12:41a family law attorney.

00:12:42Your children are concerned

00:12:44about your mental well-being

00:12:45and have asked me

00:12:46to assess the situation.

00:12:49I didn't shake his hand.

00:12:51Instead,

00:12:51I went directly

00:12:52to my dining table

00:12:53and collected

00:12:54all my documents

00:12:55that he had been reviewing

00:12:56without my permission.

00:12:59These are my private papers.

00:13:01You have no right

00:13:02to look at them

00:13:03without my consent.

00:13:05Mom,

00:13:06Max interjected

00:13:07with that condescending voice

00:13:08he had perfected

00:13:09in recent years.

00:13:11We're worried about you.

00:13:12Your behavior

00:13:13has been very strange lately.

00:13:15First,

00:13:16you financially cut us off

00:13:17without an explanation.

00:13:19Then you don't answer our calls.

00:13:21We think you might need

00:13:22professional help.

00:13:24Lena approached

00:13:25and tried to take my hand

00:13:26with that fake tenderness

00:13:27she reserved for moments

00:13:29when she needed something.

00:13:32Renate, honey,

00:13:33we know you're under

00:13:34a lot of stress.

00:13:36Maybe the loneliness

00:13:37is affecting you

00:13:38more than you think.

00:13:40At your age,

00:13:40episodes of confusion

00:13:42are normal.

00:13:44The word confusion

00:13:46echoed in my head

00:13:47like an alarm bell.

00:13:49Now I understood

00:13:50why they had brought

00:13:51the lawyer.

00:13:52It wasn't about

00:13:53helping me.

00:13:54It was about declaring me

00:13:55mentally incompetent

00:13:57and taking control

00:13:58of my finances.

00:13:59The same woman

00:14:00who had told me

00:14:01they only invited

00:14:02special people

00:14:03to their wedding

00:14:04was now treating me

00:14:05like a senile old lady.

00:14:07I am not confused,

00:14:09I said with a firmness

00:14:10that silenced everyone.

00:14:12I am clearer

00:14:13than I have been in years

00:14:14and you are going

00:14:15to leave my house

00:14:15right now.

00:14:17Mr. Fisher interjected

00:14:18with that professional voice

00:14:19lawyers use

00:14:20when they want

00:14:20to sound reasonable.

00:14:22Mrs. Richter,

00:14:23I understand you feel

00:14:24overwhelmed,

00:14:25but your children

00:14:26have a right to intervene

00:14:27if they believe

00:14:28your ability

00:14:28to make financial decisions

00:14:30is impaired.

00:14:31They have documented

00:14:32several concerning behaviors.

00:14:33concerning behaviors.

00:14:37The laugh that came

00:14:37from my throat

00:14:38was hoarse,

00:14:39almost cruel.

00:14:40Like what?

00:14:41Deciding that my money

00:14:43belongs to me?

00:14:44Deciding to no longer

00:14:45finance the lives

00:14:46of two adults

00:14:46who treat me like trash?

00:14:48Lena jumped up

00:14:49as if I had slapped her.

00:14:51We never treated you badly.

00:14:53You are part of our family.

00:14:55Everything you have

00:14:56will belong to us

00:14:57one day anyway.

00:14:58We are just speeding

00:14:59up the process.

00:15:01There was the naked,

00:15:02unvarnished truth.

00:15:03Everything I had

00:15:05would one day

00:15:05belong to them.

00:15:07In their minds,

00:15:08I was already dead

00:15:09and they were just

00:15:10collecting their inheritance

00:15:11in advance.

00:15:13It didn't matter

00:15:13if I had 70 years

00:15:14or 70 days left.

00:15:16To them,

00:15:17I was just an ATM

00:15:18with legs

00:15:19that had become problematic.

00:15:21Out, I said,

00:15:22pointing to the door.

00:15:24All three of you

00:15:24get out of my house.

00:15:26Max stood up

00:15:27with that angry,

00:15:28childlike face he made

00:15:29when he didn't get his way.

00:15:31Mom, we can't just leave.

00:15:32We have obligations.

00:15:34The rent,

00:15:35the car payments,

00:15:36the credit card

00:15:37you co-signed for.

00:15:38You can't just cut us off

00:15:39from one day to the next.

00:15:41I can't?

00:15:43My voice rose

00:15:44for the first time

00:15:45in the entire conversation.

00:15:47Who says I can't?

00:15:48For years,

00:15:49I have paid rent

00:15:50that wasn't even in my name.

00:15:52I filled a refrigerator

00:15:53in a house

00:15:54where I was not welcome.

00:15:56I financed a life

00:15:58that clearly

00:15:58had no place for me.

00:16:00Mr. Fisher took a folder

00:16:02from his briefcase

00:16:03and placed it on my table.

00:16:06Mrs. Richter,

00:16:06we have prepared

00:16:07some documents

00:16:08that could facilitate

00:16:09this transition.

00:16:11A power of attorney

00:16:12that would allow

00:16:13Max and Lena

00:16:14to manage your finances

00:16:16more efficiently.

00:16:17This would just be temporary

00:16:18until you feel better.

00:16:21I took the folder

00:16:21and without even opening it,

00:16:23threw it directly

00:16:24into the trash can.

00:16:26The only transition

00:16:27that is going to happen here

00:16:28is yours to the front door.

00:16:31Lena started to cry,

00:16:32but they weren't

00:16:33tears of sadness.

00:16:34They were tears

00:16:35of frustration,

00:16:36of contained rage.

00:16:38You can't do this

00:16:39to us, Renate.

00:16:40We were counting on you.

00:16:42We made plans

00:16:43based on your support.

00:16:45We bought things.

00:16:46We took on

00:16:47financial obligations

00:16:48because we knew

00:16:49we could count on you.

00:16:51Obligations based

00:16:52on my money,

00:16:53I replied.

00:16:54Not on my well-being.

00:16:55Not on my happiness.

00:16:57Not on my company.

00:16:58Just on my money.

00:16:59And now that I have decided

00:17:01that my money

00:17:01is better used

00:17:02in my own life,

00:17:03I am suddenly

00:17:04a confused old woman

00:17:05who needs legal guardianship?

00:17:08Max tried to approach me,

00:17:10but I took a step back.

00:17:12He was no longer

00:17:13the boy who ran into my arms

00:17:14when he had nightmares.

00:17:16He was a 35-year-old man

00:17:18who saw his mother

00:17:19as an obstacle

00:17:20between himself

00:17:21and a comfortable life

00:17:22financed by others.

00:17:24Mom,

00:17:25we made mistakes,

00:17:26he said in a voice

00:17:28that was supposed

00:17:28to sound remorseful.

00:17:30The wedding

00:17:31was a misunderstanding.

00:17:33Lena was nervous.

00:17:34I was under pressure.

00:17:35We can fix this

00:17:36if you just become

00:17:37reasonable again.

00:17:39Reasonable.

00:17:40The word tasted bitter

00:17:42in my mouth.

00:17:43Being reasonable

00:17:44means continuing

00:17:45to pay for your life

00:17:46while you treat me

00:17:47like a stranger.

00:17:48It means pretending

00:17:49it doesn't hurt

00:17:50to have been excluded

00:17:51from the most important day

00:17:53of my only son's life.

00:17:55Mr. Fisher packed his papers

00:17:57with the efficiency

00:17:57of someone

00:17:58who is used to having

00:17:59proposals rejected.

00:18:01Mrs. Richter,

00:18:02this is not over.

00:18:03Your family

00:18:04has legal options.

00:18:06If you are indeed

00:18:07making irrational decisions

00:18:09due to mental health problems,

00:18:11a judge can determine

00:18:12that you need guardianship.

00:18:14His words

00:18:15were like a blow.

00:18:16I realized

00:18:17this was not just

00:18:18a manipulative

00:18:19family visit.

00:18:20It was a real

00:18:21legal threat.

00:18:23They wanted to declare

00:18:23me incompetent

00:18:24to manage my own affairs.

00:18:26Mr. Fisher,

00:18:27I said,

00:18:28looking him directly

00:18:29in the eyes.

00:18:30I suggest you

00:18:31do your research

00:18:31thoroughly

00:18:32before you threaten

00:18:33a 71-year-old woman

00:18:35who has managed

00:18:36her finances

00:18:36flawlessly

00:18:37for 40 years,

00:18:39who raised her son

00:18:40alone after the

00:18:41death of her husband,

00:18:42who ran a household

00:18:43and worked honorably

00:18:44until retirement,

00:18:46and who until last week

00:18:47financially supported

00:18:48two completely

00:18:49capable adults.

00:18:51Lena stopped crying

00:18:52and looked at me

00:18:53with a coldness

00:18:54that finally showed

00:18:55her true face.

00:18:57This won't stay

00:18:58like this, Renati.

00:18:59We have rights

00:19:00and lawyers, too.

00:19:01Perfect,

00:19:02I replied.

00:19:03Hire all the lawyers

00:19:04you want,

00:19:05with your own money,

00:19:06of course,

00:19:07because mine is

00:19:07no longer available

00:19:08to finance

00:19:09your legal tantrums.

00:19:11The three of them

00:19:11walked to the door

00:19:12with the wounded

00:19:13dignity of people

00:19:14who are not used

00:19:15to being told no.

00:19:17Before he went out,

00:19:18Max turned to me

00:19:19one last time.

00:19:21Mom,

00:19:21this is going to end

00:19:23very badly for you.

00:19:24You're going to end up

00:19:25alone,

00:19:26with no one to take care

00:19:27of you when you

00:19:28really need it.

00:19:30Max,

00:19:31I said with deep sadness,

00:19:33but also with

00:19:34crystalline clarity.

00:19:36I am already alone.

00:19:38The difference is

00:19:39that now it's by

00:19:40my own choice,

00:19:41not by your neglect.

00:19:42As I closed the door

00:19:45behind them,

00:19:46I stood in my living room,

00:19:47surrounded by the most

00:19:48beautiful silence

00:19:50I had heard in years.

00:19:52It was the silence

00:19:53of freedom.

00:19:54That night,

00:19:55I couldn't sleep,

00:19:57but not out of sadness

00:19:58or regret,

00:19:59but out of adrenaline

00:20:00from having reclaimed

00:20:01control of my own life.

00:20:04I lay awake in bed,

00:20:05planning my next steps

00:20:06like a general

00:20:07preparing for a battle.

00:20:09If Max and Lena

00:20:10wanted to fight,

00:20:11I would give them a war,

00:20:12but it would be a war

00:20:13I would fight

00:20:14with intelligence,

00:20:15not with emotion.

00:20:17At six o'clock

00:20:17in the morning,

00:20:18I was already dressed

00:20:19and ready to go.

00:20:20My first stop

00:20:21was the office

00:20:21of attorney Mr. Weber,

00:20:23a man I had met

00:20:24years ago

00:20:25when I was handling

00:20:26my husband's will.

00:20:28Unlike Mr. Fisher,

00:20:29whom Max and Lena

00:20:30had brought,

00:20:31Mr. Weber had

00:20:32an impeccable reputation

00:20:33and specialized

00:20:34in protecting

00:20:35the rights

00:20:36of the elderly.

00:20:37Mrs. Richter,

00:20:38he told me

00:20:39as I explained

00:20:39the situation,

00:20:41what your children

00:20:41tried to do yesterday

00:20:42is more common

00:20:43than you think.

00:20:45It's called

00:20:45elder financial abuse

00:20:46and it's a federal crime.

00:20:48The fact that

00:20:49they entered your house

00:20:50without permission

00:20:50and reviewed

00:20:51your private documents

00:20:52also constitutes

00:20:53a violation.

00:20:55His words both

00:20:56calmed and worried me.

00:20:58They calmed me

00:20:59because they confirmed

00:21:00I wasn't crazy,

00:21:01that what had happened

00:21:02was truly abusive.

00:21:05They worried me

00:21:05because I realized

00:21:06the situation

00:21:07was more serious

00:21:08than I had thought.

00:21:09We have to document

00:21:10everything,

00:21:11Mr. Weber continued.

00:21:12every transfer,

00:21:14every gift,

00:21:14every time

00:21:15they pressured you

00:21:16for money.

00:21:17We will also

00:21:17change your will

00:21:18to protect your assets

00:21:19from future

00:21:20manipulation attempts.

00:21:22We spent three hours

00:21:24reviewing my financial records.

00:21:27Mr. Weber whistled

00:21:28when he saw

00:21:28the total sum,

00:21:30$33,400

00:21:31in three years.

00:21:34Mrs. Richter,

00:21:35with this money,

00:21:36you could have lived

00:21:37comfortably,

00:21:38traveled,

00:21:39and enjoyed

00:21:40your retirement.

00:21:41Instead,

00:21:42you completely

00:21:43financed the lives

00:21:44of two adults

00:21:45who didn't even

00:21:46respect you enough

00:21:47to invite you

00:21:48to their wedding.

00:21:49When I left

00:21:50Mr. Weber's office,

00:21:52I had a complete plan.

00:21:54First,

00:21:54I would change

00:21:55all the locks

00:21:56on my house.

00:21:57Second,

00:21:58I would install

00:21:59a security system

00:22:00with cameras

00:22:00to protect myself

00:22:01from future

00:22:02surprise visits.

00:22:04Third,

00:22:04I would open

00:22:05a new bank account

00:22:06at a different bank

00:22:07where they had

00:22:07no contact.

00:22:08And fourth,

00:22:10I would start

00:22:10living the life

00:22:11I had postponed

00:22:12for years.

00:22:14My next stop

00:22:14was the hardware store.

00:22:16The owner,

00:22:17Mr. Sommer,

00:22:17had known me

00:22:18for years

00:22:19because I was

00:22:20always buying things

00:22:21to fix Max and Lena's

00:22:22apartment.

00:22:23This time

00:22:23was different.

00:22:25Mrs. Richter,

00:22:26what brings you

00:22:27here today?

00:22:28Another emergency

00:22:29with your son?

00:22:30He asked

00:22:31with the familiarity

00:22:32of a person

00:22:32who had silently

00:22:33witnessed

00:22:34my wasted generosity.

00:22:35No, Mr. Sommer,

00:22:37this time

00:22:38it's for my own house.

00:22:39I need to change

00:22:40all the locks

00:22:40and I want them

00:22:41to be of the best quality.

00:22:44He looked at me,

00:22:45surprised,

00:22:46but asked no questions.

00:22:48While I was choosing

00:22:49the locks,

00:22:50his son Ethan,

00:22:51who installed

00:22:51security systems,

00:22:52came by.

00:22:53It was Providence

00:22:54in action.

00:22:56Ethan,

00:22:57I told him,

00:22:58I also need to install

00:22:59surveillance cameras,

00:23:00the complete system.

00:23:02The price

00:23:02is not an issue.

00:23:04While they were

00:23:05preparing everything

00:23:05for the installation

00:23:06the next day,

00:23:07I received a call

00:23:08from an unknown number.

00:23:10It was Lena

00:23:11calling from someone

00:23:12else's phone

00:23:12because I had blocked

00:23:13her number

00:23:14after the previous

00:23:14day's confrontation.

00:23:17Renate,

00:23:17it's Lena.

00:23:18Please don't hang up.

00:23:19We need to talk

00:23:19like civilized adults.

00:23:21Speak,

00:23:22I said dryly.

00:23:24Listen,

00:23:25I understand

00:23:25you're upset

00:23:26about the wedding.

00:23:27It was a mistake.

00:23:29Max and I

00:23:29have talked about it

00:23:30and we want to

00:23:30make it up to you.

00:23:32How about we have

00:23:32a special dinner

00:23:33to celebrate

00:23:34our wedding with you?

00:23:35We can do it

00:23:35at your house,

00:23:36cook together

00:23:37like we used to.

00:23:38The manipulation

00:23:39in her words

00:23:40was so obvious

00:23:40that I almost

00:23:41had to laugh.

00:23:43Lena,

00:23:43how much rent

00:23:44do you owe exactly?

00:23:46The silence

00:23:47on the other end

00:23:48confirmed that

00:23:49I had hit a nerve.

00:23:50Um,

00:23:51well,

00:23:52it's two months,

00:23:53one thousand dollars

00:23:54total.

00:23:55But I'm not just

00:23:56calling for that,

00:23:56Renate.

00:23:57We really miss you

00:23:58in our lives.

00:23:59Do you miss me

00:24:01or my money?

00:24:02I asked directly.

00:24:03Both,

00:24:04she replied

00:24:05with a surprising

00:24:06honesty.

00:24:07Renate,

00:24:07I won't lie to you.

00:24:09Yes,

00:24:09we need your financial

00:24:10help,

00:24:11but we love you too.

00:24:12You're important

00:24:13to us.

00:24:14If I'm so important,

00:24:16I said,

00:24:16why wasn't I

00:24:17important enough

00:24:18to be at your wedding?

00:24:19Why am I not

00:24:20important enough

00:24:21to get a call

00:24:21that doesn't ask

00:24:22for money?

00:24:22When was the last

00:24:24time you called me

00:24:25just to ask

00:24:25how I was doing?

00:24:27Another silence.

00:24:29We both knew

00:24:30the answer.

00:24:31Never.

00:24:32Lena,

00:24:33I'm only going

00:24:34to explain this

00:24:35to you once.

00:24:36For three years,

00:24:37you have treated me

00:24:37like an ATM

00:24:38with feelings.

00:24:39You used me.

00:24:41You ignored me.

00:24:42You humiliated me.

00:24:43And finally,

00:24:44you insulted me

00:24:45in the worst

00:24:46possible way.

00:24:47Now that the money

00:24:48is running out,

00:24:49you suddenly discover

00:24:50you love me.

00:24:52Renate,

00:24:52please.

00:24:53I cut her off.

00:24:55There is no

00:24:55please.

00:24:57You made your choice

00:24:58when you decided

00:24:58I wasn't special enough

00:24:59to be at your wedding.

00:25:01Now I'm making mine.

00:25:03I hung up

00:25:04and turned the phone

00:25:05off completely.

00:25:06I didn't want

00:25:06any more interruptions

00:25:07on my day of liberation.

00:25:10That afternoon,

00:25:11I went to the beauty salon

00:25:12I hadn't been to

00:25:13in over a year.

00:25:14I always canceled

00:25:15my appointments

00:25:15because Max or Lena

00:25:17needed something urgent

00:25:18or because the money

00:25:19I had set aside

00:25:20for myself

00:25:20became an emergency

00:25:21for them.

00:25:23Mrs. Richter,

00:25:24my favorite

00:25:25hairstylist Cynthia

00:25:26called out,

00:25:27What a surprise!

00:25:28I thought you

00:25:29had forgotten us.

00:25:30I didn't forget you,

00:25:31Cynthia.

00:25:32I just forgot

00:25:33that I also

00:25:33deserved to be pampered.

00:25:35I treated myself

00:25:36to the full treatment.

00:25:38Cut,

00:25:39color,

00:25:39manicure,

00:25:40pedicure.

00:25:41For the first time

00:25:42in years,

00:25:43I spent money

00:25:44on myself

00:25:44without feeling guilty.

00:25:46While Cynthia

00:25:47worked on my hair,

00:25:48she told me

00:25:48about her life,

00:25:49her children,

00:25:50her dreams.

00:25:51It was refreshing

00:25:52to have a conversation

00:25:53that didn't revolve

00:25:54around Max

00:25:55and Lena's needs.

00:25:57You look beautiful,

00:25:58Mrs. Richter,

00:25:59she said when she was done.

00:26:01But more than that,

00:26:02you look free.

00:26:03Did something good happen?

00:26:05Yes, Cynthia.

00:26:07I finally learned

00:26:08to say no.

00:26:09When I got home

00:26:10that afternoon,

00:26:11there was a car

00:26:12in front of my door

00:26:13that I didn't recognize.

00:26:15My heart raced

00:26:15for a moment,

00:26:16thinking Max and Lena

00:26:17might have come back

00:26:18with reinforcements.

00:26:19But as I got closer,

00:26:21I saw an older woman

00:26:22sitting on the steps

00:26:23of my porch.

00:26:25Mrs. Richter?

00:26:26She asked

00:26:27as I got out of the car.

00:26:29Yes, that's me.

00:26:31Can I help you?

00:26:32I'm Eleanor Brooks.

00:26:34I live next door.

00:26:35We've been neighbors

00:26:36for years,

00:26:37but we've never

00:26:38had a chance to talk.

00:26:40Yesterday,

00:26:40I heard very loud voices

00:26:41in your house,

00:26:42and I got worried.

00:26:44Is everything okay?

00:26:46Her sincere concern

00:26:47touched me deeply.

00:26:48Here was a stranger

00:26:49who showed more interest

00:26:51in my well-being

00:26:52than my own son.

00:26:53Come in, Mrs. Brooks.

00:26:55I'll make you a coffee,

00:26:56and I'll tell you a story

00:26:57you won't believe.

00:26:59While I was making coffee,

00:27:01I told her

00:27:01the whole situation.

00:27:03Eleanor listened

00:27:04without interrupting,

00:27:05nodding occasionally,

00:27:07and when I finished

00:27:08my story,

00:27:09her eyes were filled

00:27:10with tears.

00:27:12Mrs. Richter,

00:27:13she said,

00:27:14you did the right thing.

00:27:15I went through

00:27:17something similar

00:27:17with my daughter

00:27:18five years ago.

00:27:19I also thought

00:27:20it was my duty

00:27:21to finance her adult life.

00:27:23I also believed

00:27:24they wouldn't love me

00:27:24if I didn't give them money.

00:27:26What happened?

00:27:27I cut off the money

00:27:28when I realized

00:27:29they only called me

00:27:30when they needed something.

00:27:32At first,

00:27:32it was terrible.

00:27:33They threatened me,

00:27:34emotionally blackmailed me,

00:27:36tried to make me feel guilty.

00:27:38But after six months,

00:27:39my daughter called

00:27:40to genuinely apologize.

00:27:41Now we have

00:27:43a real relationship

00:27:44based on love,

00:27:45not on money.

00:27:46Her words gave me hope

00:27:48and confirmed

00:27:48that I had made

00:27:49the right decision.

00:27:51Do you think

00:27:52Max and Lena

00:27:52will understand one day?

00:27:54Maybe yes,

00:27:55maybe no,

00:27:56she answered honestly.

00:27:57But that's no longer

00:27:58your responsibility,

00:27:59Mrs. Richter.

00:28:00Your responsibility now

00:28:02is to live your own life.

00:28:04That night,

00:28:05for the first time

00:28:06in three years,

00:28:07I went to bed

00:28:08without worrying

00:28:09about whether Max

00:28:10and Lena

00:28:10had money for rent,

00:28:11for food,

00:28:12for their whims.

00:28:14I went to bed

00:28:14thinking about myself,

00:28:16my plans,

00:28:17my future,

00:28:18and I slept better

00:28:19than I had in years.

00:28:21The next day,

00:28:22Ethan and Mr. Summer

00:28:23came at eight in the morning

00:28:25to change the locks

00:28:26and install the security system.

00:28:28While they worked,

00:28:29my phone didn't stop ringing

00:28:30from unknown numbers.

00:28:32Lena was still trying

00:28:33to contact me

00:28:34from different phones,

00:28:35but I had developed

00:28:36a new skill,

00:28:37completely ignoring calls

00:28:39that didn't suit me.

00:28:41Mrs. Richter,

00:28:42Ethan said

00:28:42as he installed

00:28:43the cameras.

00:28:44This system

00:28:45will give you

00:28:45absolute peace of mind.

00:28:47You can see

00:28:48from your phone

00:28:48who is coming

00:28:49to your house

00:28:50even when you're not here.

00:28:51And if someone

00:28:52breaks in without permission,

00:28:54an alert is automatically

00:28:55sent to the police.

00:28:57The irony

00:28:58was not lost on me.

00:28:59I was installing

00:29:00a security system

00:29:01to protect myself

00:29:02from my own son,

00:29:03but it didn't hurt

00:29:04as much as it used to.

00:29:05It was simply

00:29:06a practical measure

00:29:07to maintain

00:29:08my newfound peace.

00:29:10While they were working,

00:29:11I decided to do something

00:29:12I hadn't done in years.

00:29:14Call my sister,

00:29:15Diana, in Chicago.

00:29:17We had lost touch

00:29:18because every time

00:29:19we talked,

00:29:20I would tell her

00:29:20about Max and Lena's successes,

00:29:22about how much money

00:29:23I had spent on them,

00:29:25about how proud I was

00:29:26to be able to help them.

00:29:27I now realized

00:29:28that our conversations

00:29:29had become financial reports

00:29:31disguised as family news.

00:29:33Renate,

00:29:34Diana answered,

00:29:35surprised.

00:29:36Sister, how are you?

00:29:37We haven't spoken in months.

00:29:39I'm good, Diana.

00:29:40Better than good.

00:29:41I'm calling you

00:29:42to tell you

00:29:43that I've finally

00:29:43come to my senses.

00:29:45I told her

00:29:46the whole story

00:29:46from the beginning,

00:29:47the secret wedding,

00:29:48the humiliation,

00:29:50the visit with the lawyer,

00:29:51my decision

00:29:51to cut off the funding.

00:29:53Diana listened to me

00:29:54in silence,

00:29:55and when I was done,

00:29:57her answer surprised me.

00:29:59Renate, sister,

00:30:00it was about time.

00:30:02Every time we spoke,

00:30:02it broke my heart

00:30:03to hear you brag

00:30:04about how much money

00:30:05you gave them.

00:30:06As if love

00:30:06could be measured

00:30:07in dollars.

00:30:08I wanted to tell you

00:30:09something,

00:30:10but I didn't know how.

00:30:12What did you want

00:30:12to tell me?

00:30:13That Max never spoke

00:30:15lovingly about you

00:30:16when I saw him

00:30:16at family gatherings.

00:30:18It was always,

00:30:19my mom helped me

00:30:20with this,

00:30:21or my mom bought me that,

00:30:23but never,

00:30:23I miss my mom,

00:30:25or I love my mom.

00:30:27It was as if you

00:30:27were a service provider,

00:30:29not a person.

00:30:30Her words hurt,

00:30:32but it was

00:30:32a necessary pain,

00:30:33like when a doctor

00:30:34cleans an infected wound.

00:30:36It hurts,

00:30:37but it's part

00:30:38of the healing.

00:30:39You know what else

00:30:40I noticed?

00:30:41Diana continued.

00:30:43Lena always spoke

00:30:44about you

00:30:44in the future tense.

00:30:46When Renate is

00:30:47no longer here,

00:30:48we can remodel her house,

00:30:49or,

00:30:50when we inherit,

00:30:51we will invest

00:30:52in the business.

00:30:53As if they were

00:30:54waiting for you

00:30:54to die

00:30:55to really live.

00:30:57This revelation

00:30:58hit me like a bucket

00:30:59of ice water.

00:31:00They didn't just

00:31:01see me as an ATM,

00:31:03they saw me

00:31:03as a temporary obstacle

00:31:05between them

00:31:06and their money.

00:31:07While I was trying

00:31:08to make them happy,

00:31:09they were planning

00:31:10their future without me.

00:31:12After talking with Diana,

00:31:14I sat in my kitchen,

00:31:15processing all this information.

00:31:17Years of marriage

00:31:18to a man

00:31:19who truly loved me,

00:31:2135 years of raising

00:31:22my son alone

00:31:23after my husband's death,

00:31:25and three years

00:31:26of financing two adults

00:31:27who saw me

00:31:28as a $100,000 obstacle.

00:31:31The doorbell rang,

00:31:33and on the new cameras,

00:31:34I saw it was Eleanor

00:31:36with a mug in her hands.

00:31:38I opened the door,

00:31:39and she handed me

00:31:40a fresh-brewed coffee.

00:31:42I thought you might

00:31:43need some company

00:31:44after everything

00:31:45you told me yesterday,

00:31:46she said,

00:31:47with that sincere smile

00:31:49I had already

00:31:50come to appreciate.

00:31:51We sat in my living room,

00:31:53and Eleanor told me

00:31:54more details

00:31:55from her own experience.

00:31:56My daughter said

00:31:58the exact same thing

00:31:59to me that Lena

00:31:59says to you.

00:32:01You're like a second mom

00:32:02to me.

00:32:03We're special to you.

00:32:04Everything will be ours

00:32:05one day anyway.

00:32:07Those are rehearsed phrases,

00:32:09Mrs. Richter.

00:32:10They learn them

00:32:10from the emotional

00:32:11manipulation handbook.

00:32:14Do you think

00:32:14such a handbook exists?

00:32:17I asked half-jokingly.

00:32:19Not officially,

00:32:20but it seems everyone

00:32:21reads from the same book.

00:32:23Chapter 1 is

00:32:25Make her feel indispensable.

00:32:28Chapter 2 is

00:32:29Create Constant Financial Emergencies.

00:32:33Chapter 3 is

00:32:34When she resists,

00:32:36question her mental health.

00:32:38We laughed,

00:32:39but it was a bitter laugh.

00:32:41It was both funny

00:32:41and tragic

00:32:42to recognize

00:32:43such predictable patterns

00:32:44in our own children's behavior.

00:32:46Did you ever feel guilty

00:32:48for cutting off the money?

00:32:49I asked Eleanor.

00:32:51Every single day

00:32:52for the first three months,

00:32:53she answered honestly.

00:32:56But then I started

00:32:57to see the results.

00:32:59My daughter

00:32:59had to get a second job.

00:33:01Her husband

00:33:01stopped playing golf

00:33:02every weekend

00:33:03and started looking

00:33:04for extra work.

00:33:05They learned to live

00:33:06within their means

00:33:07and more importantly,

00:33:08they learned that

00:33:09I was a person,

00:33:11not a resource.

00:33:12That afternoon,

00:33:13I decided to do something

00:33:15I had postponed

00:33:15for years.

00:33:17Visit my husband's grave.

00:33:18I always made excuses

00:33:20not to go

00:33:21because Max or Lena

00:33:22needed something urgent

00:33:23or because the taxi fare

00:33:25was better invested

00:33:26in one of their emergencies.

00:33:28The cemetery was quiet

00:33:29and beautiful.

00:33:31Robert's grave

00:33:32looked a bit neglected

00:33:33because I hadn't been there

00:33:34to clean it in months.

00:33:35I sat on the grass

00:33:36next to his headstone

00:33:37and talked to him

00:33:39as if he were alive.

00:33:40Robert, my love,

00:33:42I think I lost myself

00:33:43for a while.

00:33:44After you left,

00:33:45I put all my energy

00:33:46into Max.

00:33:47I wanted to be

00:33:48the best mother

00:33:49in the world,

00:33:50thinking somehow

00:33:50he would grow up

00:33:51without a father,

00:33:53but I think in the process

00:33:54I forgot to be myself.

00:33:57The wind blew gently

00:33:58and for a moment

00:34:00I felt like he was

00:34:01listening to me.

00:34:03Our son has become

00:34:04someone I don't recognize

00:34:05or maybe he was

00:34:06always like this

00:34:07and I didn't want to see it.

00:34:08His wife is,

00:34:10well, you know how she is.

00:34:12The money you left

00:34:13for me to live peacefully,

00:34:14I spent it taking care of them,

00:34:16but not anymore, my love.

00:34:18I have learned.

00:34:19I cleaned his grave,

00:34:20replaced the withered flowers

00:34:22with new ones,

00:34:23and stayed there

00:34:23for another hour,

00:34:25simply enjoying the peace.

00:34:27For the first time in years,

00:34:28I was not in a hurry

00:34:30to get home

00:34:30to solve a crisis

00:34:31for Max and Lena.

00:34:33When I got home,

00:34:34there were three cars

00:34:35parked in front of my door again.

00:34:37My heart raced,

00:34:38but this time I was prepared.

00:34:40The cameras showed me

00:34:41that it was Max, Lena,

00:34:43and two other people

00:34:44I didn't recognize.

00:34:46Everyone seemed agitated,

00:34:47talking to each other

00:34:48and pointing at my house.

00:34:50I didn't get out of the car.

00:34:51Instead, I called Mr. Weber,

00:34:53my lawyer.

00:34:54Mr. Weber,

00:34:54they are at my house again.

00:34:56This time they've brought

00:34:57more people.

00:34:58What should I do?

00:34:59Don't get out of the car,

00:35:00Mrs. Richter.

00:35:01I'll be there right away

00:35:02and I'll call the police.

00:35:04After our conversation yesterday,

00:35:06I requested

00:35:06a temporary restraining order.

00:35:08They are not allowed

00:35:09to be on your property.

00:35:11Minutes later,

00:35:12Mr. Weber

00:35:13and two police patrol cars arrived.

00:35:16I watched the officers

00:35:17talk to Max and Lena,

00:35:18saw my son gesticulate angrily,

00:35:21saw Lena crying again,

00:35:22but this time

00:35:23her tears did not move me.

00:35:25One of the officers

00:35:26approached my car.

00:35:27Ma'am,

00:35:28you can get out safely.

00:35:29Your visitors

00:35:30are going to leave immediately.

00:35:32As I got out of the car,

00:35:33Max shouted at me

00:35:34from the street,

00:35:35Mom,

00:35:35this is ridiculous.

00:35:37We're your family.

00:35:38You can't call the police

00:35:40on your own son.

00:35:42Max,

00:35:42I replied with a calm

00:35:44that surprised even me.

00:35:46Family doesn't threaten

00:35:47lawsuits

00:35:47for mental incompetence.

00:35:49Family doesn't break

00:35:50into people's homes

00:35:51without permission.

00:35:52Family doesn't treat

00:35:53their mothers

00:35:53like ATMs.

00:35:55Lena screamed

00:35:56from across the street.

00:35:58You're going to pay us

00:35:59everything you owe us.

00:36:00We have bills

00:36:01you co-signed for.

00:36:02You can't just

00:36:03abandon us like this,

00:36:05Mr. Weber interjected.

00:36:07Mrs. Brooks,

00:36:07any future communication

00:36:09must be through my office,

00:36:11and I suggest you consult

00:36:12with an attorney

00:36:12before making collection threats,

00:36:14because my client

00:36:15has full documentation

00:36:16of all the payments

00:36:18she voluntarily made

00:36:19for three years.

00:36:20I watched them drive away

00:36:22in their cars,

00:36:23defeated,

00:36:24but not giving up.

00:36:25I knew this wasn't over,

00:36:27but for the first time

00:36:28in this situation,

00:36:29I felt confident.

00:36:30I had professional help.

00:36:32I had emotional support

00:36:34from Eleanor,

00:36:34and more importantly,

00:36:35I had mental clarity

00:36:37about what was right

00:36:38and what was wrong.

00:36:40That night,

00:36:41Eleanor invited me

00:36:42to her house for dinner.

00:36:44I met her daughter,

00:36:44who was visiting,

00:36:45and I was able to see

00:36:46with my own eyes

00:36:47what a healthy family

00:36:48relationship looked like.

00:36:50They spoke respectfully

00:36:51to each other,

00:36:52asked sincerely

00:36:52about each other's lives,

00:36:54and laughed together.

00:36:55The daughter didn't ask

00:36:56for money once

00:36:57the entire evening.

00:36:58I wanted that

00:37:00with Max, too,

00:37:01I confessed to Eleanor

00:37:02after her daughter

00:37:03had left.

00:37:04And maybe you'll get it

00:37:05one day,

00:37:06she replied.

00:37:07But first,

00:37:08he has to learn

00:37:09that you are a person

00:37:10who deserves respect,

00:37:12not just a source

00:37:13of income.

00:37:14For the first time

00:37:15in weeks,

00:37:16I went to bed

00:37:17feeling hopeful

00:37:17about the future.

00:37:19The next few days

00:37:20were strangely peaceful.

00:37:22The surveillance cameras

00:37:23showed me that Max

00:37:24and Lena were driving

00:37:24past my house

00:37:25several times a day,

00:37:26sometimes slowly,

00:37:27sometimes they parked

00:37:28for a few minutes,

00:37:29but without getting out.

00:37:31It was as if they were

00:37:32studying my routine,

00:37:33looking for the perfect moment

00:37:35for their next move.

00:37:37Mr. Weber had advised me

00:37:38to document

00:37:39every one of these visits,

00:37:40so I kept a detailed log

00:37:42with the date and time.

00:37:44Their persistence

00:37:45will work in our favor,

00:37:46he had said.

00:37:47Every time they show up

00:37:49after we've told them

00:37:49not to approach,

00:37:51it strengthens our case

00:37:52for a permanent

00:37:52restraining order.

00:37:55On Friday morning,

00:37:56I was calmly having breakfast

00:37:58when the doorbell rang.

00:37:59The cameras showed me

00:38:00a very well-dressed

00:38:01young woman

00:38:02with a folder in her hands

00:38:03and a professional smile.

00:38:05I didn't recognize her,

00:38:07but something about her posture

00:38:08told me

00:38:09it was not a social visit.

00:38:12Good morning,

00:38:12Mrs. Renati Richter,

00:38:14she said as I opened the door.

00:38:16I am a social investigator

00:38:17from the Office

00:38:18of Senior Services.

00:38:20We have received a report

00:38:21that you may be

00:38:22in an at-risk situation,

00:38:23and we need to conduct

00:38:25a wellness check.

00:38:27My blood ran cold.

00:38:29Max and Lena

00:38:29had escalated the situation.

00:38:32It was no longer

00:38:32just threats

00:38:33from private lawyers.

00:38:35Now they had involved

00:38:36the government.

00:38:37Can I see your ID?

00:38:38I asked,

00:38:39trying to stay calm.

00:38:40Of course.

00:38:42She showed me

00:38:42an official ID

00:38:43that looked genuine.

00:38:45I am social worker

00:38:46Mrs. Schmidt.

00:38:47Can I come in

00:38:47and talk to you?

00:38:48I let her in,

00:38:49knowing that a refusal

00:38:50would have been worse

00:38:51for my case.

00:38:53Mrs. Schmidt sat down

00:38:54in my living room

00:38:55and took a form

00:38:56out of her folder.

00:38:57Mrs. Richter,

00:38:58we have received reports

00:39:00that you have shown

00:39:01significant changes

00:39:02in your financial behavior,

00:39:03that you have cut off

00:39:04communication

00:39:05with your family,

00:39:06and that you have shown

00:39:07signs of paranoia

00:39:08by installing

00:39:09unnecessary security systems.

00:39:12We were also told

00:39:13that you have refused

00:39:14medical and legal help

00:39:16from your loved ones.

00:39:18Every word

00:39:19had been carefully chosen

00:39:20to make me sound

00:39:21like a mentally disturbed

00:39:22old woman.

00:39:23I recognized

00:39:24Lena's handwriting

00:39:25in the wording.

00:39:26She had always been skilled

00:39:28at manipulating words

00:39:29to get what she wanted.

00:39:30Mrs. Schmidt,

00:39:31I said with all the dignity

00:39:33I could muster,

00:39:34I would like to call my lawyer

00:39:35before answering

00:39:36any questions.

00:39:37Ma'am,

00:39:38this is not a legal interrogation.

00:39:40It's a wellness check.

00:39:42If you have nothing to hide,

00:39:43it should not be a problem

00:39:45to speak with me.

00:39:46The phrase,

00:39:47if you have nothing to hide,

00:39:49infuriated me.

00:39:50It was the same logic

00:39:51abusers used

00:39:52to justify their invasions.

00:39:54If you're innocent,

00:39:55you shouldn't complain

00:39:56about your privacy

00:39:57being violated.

00:39:59Miss,

00:39:59I'm calling my lawyer.

00:40:01You can wait here

00:40:01or come back another day,

00:40:03but I will not answer

00:40:04any questions

00:40:05without legal representation present.

00:40:08I called Mr. Weber,

00:40:09and he was there

00:40:10within 20 minutes.

00:40:11When he came in

00:40:12and saw the social worker,

00:40:13his expression hardened.

00:40:15Miss Schmidt,

00:40:16he said after checking her ID,

00:40:18I hope you have

00:40:18a court order

00:40:19to be here

00:40:19because my client

00:40:20is under

00:40:21my legal representation

00:40:22and any unauthorized

00:40:24investigation

00:40:24constitutes harassment.

00:40:27Sir?

00:40:28Mrs. Schmidt replied

00:40:29with less confidence

00:40:30than before.

00:40:31We have reports

00:40:32from concerned family members

00:40:33about the lady's well-being.

00:40:35It's our duty

00:40:35to investigate.

00:40:37What family?

00:40:38Mr. Weber asked dryly.

00:40:41The same family

00:40:41that tried to get her

00:40:42to sign a power of attorney

00:40:44without representation?

00:40:46The same family

00:40:47that broke into her house

00:40:48without permission

00:40:48and checked her private documents?

00:40:51The same family

00:40:52that excluded her

00:40:53from important events

00:40:54while living off her money?

00:40:56Mr. Weber took a folder

00:40:57from his briefcase

00:40:59and placed it on the table.

00:41:01Here,

00:41:01I have complete documentation

00:41:03of my client's financial

00:41:05and emotional abuse.

00:41:06$33,400

00:41:08that were withdrawn

00:41:10from her accounts

00:41:11in three years.

00:41:13Systematic social exclusion

00:41:14and emotional blackmail.

00:41:16If someone needs

00:41:17to be investigated here,

00:41:19it is not my client.

00:41:21Mrs. Schmidt reviewed

00:41:22the documents

00:41:22with growing discomfort.

00:41:24It was obvious

00:41:25that the information

00:41:25she had been given

00:41:26did not match the reality

00:41:28she had in front of her.

00:41:30Mrs. Richter,

00:41:31she said finally,

00:41:32can you explain to me

00:41:33why you so abruptly

00:41:35stopped financial support

00:41:36for your son?

00:41:37Because I finally discovered

00:41:39they were using me,

00:41:40I replied simply.

00:41:41Because I realized

00:41:42that to them,

00:41:44I wasn't a mother,

00:41:45but a bank account.

00:41:46Because I was tired

00:41:47of financing the lives

00:41:48of people who saw me

00:41:49as an obstacle.

00:41:51But don't you feel

00:41:51it's your responsibility

00:41:52to help your family?

00:41:54The question outraged me.

00:41:56Ms. Schmidt,

00:41:57my responsibility

00:41:58as a mother

00:41:59was to raise my son

00:42:00until he was 18,

00:42:01to educate him,

00:42:03and to give him the tools

00:42:04to be an independent adult.

00:42:06My son is 35 years old,

00:42:08married,

00:42:08and perfectly capable

00:42:10of supporting himself.

00:42:12Financing his adult life

00:42:13is not my responsibility.

00:42:15It is my choice,

00:42:16and I have chosen

00:42:17not to do so anymore.

00:42:20Mr. Weber interjected,

00:42:22Ms. Schmidt,

00:42:23would you consider it normal

00:42:24for a 35-year-old adult

00:42:26to be unable

00:42:27to pay his own rent

00:42:28without the help

00:42:29of his 71-year-old mother?

00:42:32Mrs. Schmidt did not answer

00:42:33right away.

00:42:34I could see

00:42:35she was re-evaluating

00:42:36the entire situation.

00:42:39Mrs. Richter,

00:42:40she asked after a moment,

00:42:42do you manage

00:42:42your own finances completely?

00:42:45I can show you

00:42:45my bank statements,

00:42:47my investments,

00:42:48my tax payments.

00:42:49Everything is current

00:42:50and in order.

00:42:51Do you live independently?

00:42:53As you can see,

00:42:54I keep my house clean.

00:42:56I take care of myself physically.

00:42:58I drive my own car.

00:43:00I have healthy

00:43:01social relationships

00:43:02with my neighbors.

00:43:02Do you take any medication?

00:43:06Just vitamins

00:43:06and occasionally aspirin.

00:43:08I don't have any medical conditions

00:43:10that require medication.

00:43:12Mr. Weber added,

00:43:13My client has just undergone

00:43:15extensive medical exams

00:43:16as part of our legal process.

00:43:18She is in perfect mental

00:43:19and physical condition.

00:43:21Mrs. Schmidt closed her folder

00:43:23and sighed.

00:43:24Mrs. Richter,

00:43:25based on this conversation

00:43:26and the documentation

00:43:27I have reviewed,

00:43:29I see no indication

00:43:30that you are at risk

00:43:31or in need of intervention.

00:43:32I will close this case.

00:43:35After she left,

00:43:36Mr. Weber and I

00:43:37remained silent

00:43:38for a few minutes.

00:43:40Renat,

00:43:40he said finally,

00:43:41this is going to continue

00:43:43to escalate.

00:43:44Max and Lena

00:43:45are spending money

00:43:46they don't have to

00:43:47hire professionals

00:43:48to try to have you

00:43:49declared incompetent.

00:43:51Does that mean

00:43:51they are desperate?

00:43:53It means that exactly.

00:43:55What else can they do?

00:43:57They can file a lawsuit

00:43:58for incompetence.

00:44:00It's expensive

00:44:00and hard to win.

00:44:02But if they find

00:44:03a sympathetic judge

00:44:04and a psychiatrist

00:44:05willing to testify

00:44:06in their favor,

00:44:06they could get

00:44:07a guardian assigned.

00:44:08The thought terrified me.

00:44:10They could take control

00:44:11of my money.

00:44:12They could try,

00:44:13but we have solid evidence

00:44:15that you are

00:44:15completely competent

00:44:16and that they are

00:44:17motivated by greed

00:44:18and not by genuine concern.

00:44:20That afternoon,

00:44:22I called Diana to vent.

00:44:25Sister,

00:44:26she said after hearing

00:44:27my story,

00:44:28do you notice how far

00:44:29they are willing

00:44:29to go for money?

00:44:31They are risking

00:44:31family relationships,

00:44:33spending money on lawyers

00:44:34and doctors,

00:44:35destroying their own reputation,

00:44:37all to get access

00:44:38to your bank account again.

00:44:40Her words made me think.

00:44:42Max and Lena

00:44:43had completely revealed

00:44:44their true nature.

00:44:46There was no going back.

00:44:47There was no possibility

00:44:48of a genuine reconciliation.

00:44:50To them,

00:44:51I had never been a mother

00:44:52or a respected mother-in-law.

00:44:54I had always just been

00:44:56money on legs.

00:44:58This revelation,

00:44:59although painful,

00:45:00was also liberating.

00:45:01I no longer had to wonder

00:45:02if I was making

00:45:03the right decision.

00:45:05I no longer had to feel guilty

00:45:06for protecting myself.

00:45:08They had proven for themselves

00:45:10that my emotional

00:45:11and physical well-being

00:45:12was less important to them

00:45:14than my money.

00:45:15That evening,

00:45:16Eleanor came to visit

00:45:18with a surprise.

00:45:19She had invited her friends

00:45:20from the garden club

00:45:21to meet me.

00:45:22Renate,

00:45:23she introduced me.

00:45:25These are my friends Cynthia,

00:45:26who you already know

00:45:27from the salon,

00:45:28Maria,

00:45:29Carmen,

00:45:29and Elfrida.

00:45:30We have all been through

00:45:31similar situations

00:45:32with abusive family members.

00:45:35We spent the evening

00:45:36sharing stories.

00:45:38Maria had had to set boundaries

00:45:39with a brother

00:45:40who constantly asked her

00:45:41for money.

00:45:42Carmen had cut off

00:45:43her relationship

00:45:44with a daughter

00:45:44who only visited

00:45:45when she needed money.

00:45:47Elfrida had had

00:45:48to change her will

00:45:49after she found out

00:45:50her grandchildren

00:45:51considered her

00:45:52their retirement plan.

00:45:54What hurts me the most,

00:45:55I confessed,

00:45:56is not losing the money

00:45:58I gave them,

00:45:59but realizing that

00:46:00I never had the love

00:46:01I thought I had.

00:46:03Renate,

00:46:03Elfrida said

00:46:04with the wisdom

00:46:05of her 80 years,

00:46:06true love

00:46:07cannot be bought

00:46:08or sold.

00:46:09If you had to pay for it,

00:46:10it was never real.

00:46:12Her words were balm

00:46:13for my wounded soul.

00:46:15She was right.

00:46:16I had bought attention,

00:46:17not love.

00:46:19I had financed

00:46:20an illusion.

00:46:21You know what

00:46:22I've discovered,

00:46:23I said to my new friends,

00:46:25that loneliness,

00:46:26surrounded by people

00:46:27who don't love you,

00:46:29is worse than being

00:46:30lonely on your own.

00:46:32At least now

00:46:32when I am alone,

00:46:34I am in good company.

00:46:36Everyone laughed

00:46:37and we toasted

00:46:38to our newfound wisdom.

00:46:40That night,

00:46:42after my new friends

00:46:43had left,

00:46:43I sat in my garden,

00:46:45thinking.

00:46:46The stars shone

00:46:47brighter than ever,

00:46:48or perhaps I was seeing

00:46:49them with clearer eyes.

00:46:51For the first time

00:46:52in my adult life,

00:46:53I was completely alone

00:46:55financially.

00:46:56I had no dependents,

00:46:57no financial obligations

00:46:58to anyone but myself.

00:47:00And instead of scaring me,

00:47:02this reality excited me.

00:47:04I could travel

00:47:05when I wanted.

00:47:06I could remodel my house.

00:47:07I could buy myself

00:47:08nice clothes.

00:47:10I could donate to charities

00:47:11that were important to me.

00:47:12I could invest

00:47:13in my own future

00:47:14instead of financing

00:47:15the present of ungrateful people.

00:47:18Freedom tasted like hope

00:47:19and for the first time

00:47:20in years,

00:47:21I wanted to plan my future.

00:47:23A month after

00:47:24the psychiatrist's visit,

00:47:26I thought I had

00:47:27finally won the war.

00:47:29I had settled

00:47:30into a beautiful routine.

00:47:32I calmly had breakfast

00:47:33and read the newspaper.

00:47:34I tended to my garden,

00:47:36had lunch with Eleanor

00:47:37or one of my new friends,

00:47:38and in the afternoons,

00:47:39I devoted myself

00:47:40to activities

00:47:41I had given up for years.

00:47:43I had started painting again,

00:47:44something I was passionate about

00:47:46before I became

00:47:46Max and Lena's

00:47:47personal financier.

00:47:49But on a Thursday morning,

00:47:51while I was painting flowers

00:47:52on my new easel,

00:47:53Mr. Weber came to my house

00:47:55with a grim expression

00:47:56that made my blood run cold.

00:47:59Renate, we need to talk.

00:48:01Max and Lena have filed

00:48:02a formal lawsuit

00:48:03for mental incompetence

00:48:04in family court.

00:48:05They are requesting

00:48:06to have a legal guardian

00:48:07assigned to you.

00:48:09The words fell on me

00:48:10like stones.

00:48:11I knew it was a possibility,

00:48:13but hearing it out loud

00:48:14made it terrifyingly real.

00:48:16Does that mean

00:48:17they can take control

00:48:17of my money?

00:48:19If a judge determines

00:48:20that you are unable

00:48:21to manage your affairs,

00:48:22yes, he could place Max

00:48:24as your legal guardian,

00:48:26which would give him

00:48:26full control

00:48:27over your finances.

00:48:29I sat down heavily

00:48:30on my sofa,

00:48:32feeling the weight

00:48:32of the deepest betrayal

00:48:34I had experienced

00:48:35in my life.

00:48:36My own son was trying

00:48:37to legally declare me

00:48:39incompetent

00:48:40to steal my money.

00:48:41Mr. Weber,

00:48:42what evidence

00:48:43could they have?

00:48:44You yourself have seen

00:48:45that I am completely competent.

00:48:47They have statements

00:48:49from three witnesses

00:48:49who claim you have

00:48:50behaved erratically.

00:48:52They also submitted

00:48:53unpaid doctor's bills

00:48:54that you supposedly

00:48:55didn't pay

00:48:55and medications

00:48:56that you supposedly

00:48:57hoarded without taking them.

00:49:00But that's a lie.

00:49:01I don't have any

00:49:01outstanding doctor's bills

00:49:03or hoarded medications.

00:49:05I know, Renate,

00:49:06but they have fabricated

00:49:07convincing evidence.

00:49:09They also have the statement

00:49:10from Dr. Lehman,

00:49:11who states that you refuse

00:49:12to cooperate

00:49:13with a psychiatric evaluation,

00:49:15which they interpret

00:49:16as proof of mental decline.

00:49:18The manipulation

00:49:19was diabolical.

00:49:21They had turned

00:49:22my refusal

00:49:22to undergo

00:49:23an unnecessary exam

00:49:24into proof

00:49:25of a mental illness.

00:49:27They had used

00:49:28my instinct

00:49:28to protect myself

00:49:29from them

00:49:30as proof

00:49:31that I needed protection.

00:49:32Who are the three witnesses?

00:49:35Mr. Weber

00:49:35looked through

00:49:36his documents.

00:49:38Lena, of course,

00:49:39a neighbor named

00:49:40Mr. Davis,

00:49:41and someone who claims

00:49:42to be your pharmacist,

00:49:44Mr. Green.

00:49:45Mr. Davis was the neighbor

00:49:47across the street,

00:49:48an unpleasant man

00:49:49who had always

00:49:50had problems with me

00:49:51because my friends

00:49:52sometimes parked

00:49:53in front of his house.

00:49:54Mr. Green

00:49:55was indeed my pharmacist,

00:49:56but I didn't understand

00:49:57what he could have

00:49:58against me.

00:50:00I need to talk

00:50:00to Mr. Green,

00:50:01I told Mr. Weber.

00:50:02Something's not right.

00:50:04We went to the pharmacy

00:50:05together that afternoon.

00:50:07Mr. Green received me,

00:50:09surprised and nervous.

00:50:10Mrs. Richter,

00:50:11it's good to see you.

00:50:12How are you?

00:50:13Mr. Green,

00:50:14I was told you

00:50:15signed a statement

00:50:16saying I show

00:50:16erratic behavior

00:50:17with my medications.

00:50:19His face turned

00:50:19red as a tomato.

00:50:21Mrs. Richter,

00:50:22your daughter-in-law

00:50:23came in a few weeks ago

00:50:24and asked about

00:50:25your medications.

00:50:26She said she was worried

00:50:27because you were

00:50:27acting strangely.

00:50:29And what did you tell her?

00:50:31I explained to her

00:50:31that you only buy vitamins

00:50:33and occasional aspirin,

00:50:34that you don't have

00:50:35any regular medical prescriptions,

00:50:37but she insisted

00:50:38that this was proof

00:50:39that you weren't taking

00:50:40adequate care of your health.

00:50:42Mr. Weber interjected.

00:50:44Mr. Green,

00:50:45did you sign a paper?

00:50:47She brought a document

00:50:48that said I was confirming

00:50:49that Mrs. Richter

00:50:50had irregular

00:50:51medication purchases.

00:50:52I thought it was

00:50:53for her health insurance

00:50:54or something.

00:50:55I didn't know

00:50:56it was for a lawsuit.

00:50:57My own pharmacist

00:50:59had been tricked

00:50:59into signing something

00:51:00he didn't fully understand.

00:51:02Lena's manipulation

00:51:03knew no bounds.

00:51:06Mr. Green,

00:51:06I said,

00:51:07I need you to write

00:51:08a statement

00:51:08explaining exactly

00:51:09what happened

00:51:10and clarifying

00:51:11that I have no problems

00:51:12with medications.

00:51:14Of course,

00:51:15Mrs. Richter,

00:51:16I am terribly sorry

00:51:17for this misunderstanding.

00:51:19After the pharmacy,

00:51:21we went to confront

00:51:22Mr. Davis.

00:51:23When we knocked

00:51:24on his door,

00:51:25he received us

00:51:25with obvious hostility.

00:51:27What do you want,

00:51:28Mr. Davis?

00:51:29Mr. Weber said.

00:51:30I understand

00:51:31you signed a statement

00:51:32about my client's behavior.

00:51:34And you're right,

00:51:35I did.

00:51:36That woman is crazy.

00:51:37She's been acting

00:51:38strange for weeks.

00:51:40Can you be more specific

00:51:41about the behaviors

00:51:41you observed?

00:51:43Installing cameras

00:51:44as if she lived

00:51:44in a war zone,

00:51:46having strangers

00:51:46visit all the time,

00:51:48yelling at her family

00:51:48in the street?

00:51:49I realized Mr. Davis

00:51:51had taken everything

00:51:52out of context.

00:51:53The cameras had been

00:51:54installed for protection.

00:51:56The strangers

00:51:57were my new friends.

00:51:59The yelling was me

00:52:00defending my house

00:52:01from Max and Lena's

00:52:02invasions.

00:52:03Mr. Davis,

00:52:04I said.

00:52:05Do you know why

00:52:06I installed the cameras?

00:52:08No,

00:52:09and I don't care.

00:52:10To protect myself

00:52:11from my son

00:52:12and daughter-in-law

00:52:13who broke into my house

00:52:14without permission

00:52:15and threatened me.

00:52:17That's what a crazy person

00:52:18would say,

00:52:19he replied cruelly.

00:52:20There was no way

00:52:22to reason with him.

00:52:23His statement was based

00:52:24on superficial observations

00:52:26maliciously interpreted.

00:52:28That evening,

00:52:29Mr. Weber and I

00:52:30sat down

00:52:31to plan our defense.

00:52:33Renati,

00:52:33we need our own

00:52:34psychiatric evaluation.

00:52:36I have a colleague,

00:52:37Dr. Moore,

00:52:38who is an expert

00:52:39in assessing

00:52:39mental capacity.

00:52:41She can officially confirm

00:52:42that you are

00:52:43completely competent.

00:52:46What if Max and Lena

00:52:47have bribed the judge?

00:52:48What if none of this matters

00:52:50because they have

00:52:51already decided

00:52:52to declare me incompetent?

00:52:54Renati,

00:52:55the legal system

00:52:56is not perfect,

00:52:57but it's not

00:52:58completely corrupt either.

00:52:59We have solid evidence

00:53:01of your mental competence

00:53:02and their financial motivations.

00:53:04We are going

00:53:05to fight this.

00:53:07The next day,

00:53:08I went to my appointment

00:53:09with Dr. Moore.

00:53:11She was a woman

00:53:11in her 50s

00:53:12with kind

00:53:13but astute eyes.

00:53:15Mrs. Richter,

00:53:16I'm going to ask you

00:53:17a series of questions

00:53:18and tests

00:53:19to assess

00:53:20your mental capacity.

00:53:22Take your time

00:53:22and answer honestly.

00:53:25For two hours,

00:53:25she asked me questions

00:53:26about my memory,

00:53:28my reasoning ability,

00:53:29my financial understanding,

00:53:30my emotional health.

00:53:32She also gave me

00:53:33cognitive tests

00:53:34and asked me

00:53:35to solve mathematical

00:53:36and logical problems.

00:53:38Mrs. Richter,

00:53:39she said at the end,

00:53:40your results

00:53:41are well above average

00:53:42for your age.

00:53:43You are not only

00:53:44mentally competent

00:53:45but your cognitive function

00:53:47is excellent.

00:53:49Doctor,

00:53:49why do you think

00:53:50my family is doing this?

00:53:52Based on what you've told me

00:53:53and the documents

00:53:54I've reviewed,

00:53:55this seems to be

00:53:56a classic case

00:53:57of elder financial exploitation.

00:53:59Unfortunately,

00:54:00it's more common

00:54:01than people think.

00:54:03I left the consultation

00:54:04feeling validated

00:54:05but also sad.

00:54:07The professional confirmation

00:54:09of my mental health

00:54:10was a relief

00:54:10but it also confirmed

00:54:12that the lawsuit

00:54:13was real

00:54:14and necessary.

00:54:14That afternoon,

00:54:17Eleanor organized

00:54:18an emergency meeting

00:54:19with all our friends

00:54:20from the Garden Club.

00:54:21When I told them

00:54:22about the incompetence lawsuit,

00:54:24everyone was outraged.

00:54:26Renate,

00:54:27Maria said,

00:54:28we will testify

00:54:29in your favor.

00:54:30We have been with you

00:54:31for weeks

00:54:31and anyone can see

00:54:33that you are doing great.

00:54:34Better than great,

00:54:35Cynthia added.

00:54:37You are clearer

00:54:37and stronger

00:54:38than many 40-year-old

00:54:39women I know.

00:54:40Elfrida,

00:54:41with her 80-year-old wisdom,

00:54:43took my hands.

00:54:44Renate,

00:54:45my dear.

00:54:45What your children

00:54:46are doing

00:54:46is nothing new.

00:54:48For generations,

00:54:49greedy children

00:54:50have tried

00:54:51to declare

00:54:51their parents

00:54:52insane

00:54:53to get their money.

00:54:54But you have

00:54:55something many

00:54:56of these victims

00:54:56didn't have.

00:54:58Documentation,

00:54:59legal support,

00:55:00and friends

00:55:01who can testify

00:55:01for you.

00:55:03Her words gave me hope.

00:55:05I was not alone

00:55:06in this fight.

00:55:07I had an army

00:55:08of strong women

00:55:09who had witnessed

00:55:09my transformation

00:55:10firsthand.

00:55:11You know what

00:55:12the saddest thing

00:55:13about all this is?

00:55:14I said.

00:55:16That Max and Lena

00:55:17are willing to destroy

00:55:18any future possibility

00:55:19of reconciliation

00:55:20for money.

00:55:22Even if I were willing

00:55:23to forgive everything

00:55:24so far,

00:55:25there's no going back

00:55:26from this.

00:55:27And maybe that's

00:55:28for the best,

00:55:29Cynthia replied.

00:55:30At least now you know

00:55:31exactly who they are

00:55:32and you can act accordingly.

00:55:33That night,

00:55:35for the first time

00:55:36since this nightmare began,

00:55:38I really cried.

00:55:39Not out of sadness,

00:55:41but out of grief.

00:55:42I said my final goodbye

00:55:43to the son I thought I had,

00:55:45to the dream

00:55:46of a loving family,

00:55:47to the illusion

00:55:48that unconditional love

00:55:49was reciprocated.

00:55:51But something new

00:55:52also emerged within me,

00:55:54an iron determination

00:55:55not to let myself

00:55:57be stripped

00:55:57not only of my money,

00:55:59but also of my dignity

00:56:01and my freedom.

00:56:02The war had officially begun,

00:56:05but I was ready to fight.

00:56:07The trial came

00:56:07three weeks later.

00:56:09I woke up early,

00:56:10put on my best black suit,

00:56:12and looked at myself

00:56:13in the mirror

00:56:14with a determination

00:56:15I had never felt before.

00:56:17Today,

00:56:18not only my mental capacity

00:56:20would be judged,

00:56:21my dignity as a person,

00:56:23my right to live

00:56:24free from abuse,

00:56:25my value beyond

00:56:26my bank account

00:56:27would be judged.

00:56:29Mr. Weber came

00:56:30at seven in the morning

00:56:31to go over our strategy

00:56:32one last time.

00:56:34Renate, remember,

00:56:36the burden of proof

00:56:37is on them.

00:56:38They have to prove

00:56:39that you are incompetent.

00:56:40We just have to show

00:56:42that you are not.

00:56:44And what if the judge

00:56:45is already biased?

00:56:47Judge Miller

00:56:47has a reputation

00:56:48for being fair.

00:56:50I researched

00:56:50his past cases,

00:56:51and he doesn't

00:56:52automatically favor families.

00:56:54He is dedicated

00:56:55to protecting

00:56:55the rights of the elderly.

00:56:57We arrived at the courthouse

00:56:59at nine in the morning.

00:57:01In the hallway,

00:57:02I saw Max

00:57:03in a new suit

00:57:03that he probably bought

00:57:05for the occasion,

00:57:06and Lena dressed in black

00:57:07as if she were at a funeral.

00:57:09Maybe it was one,

00:57:10the funeral

00:57:10of our family relationship.

00:57:12When our eyes met,

00:57:14Max avoided my gaze,

00:57:15but Lena held my gaze

00:57:17with a coldness

00:57:17that confirmed

00:57:18that for her,

00:57:19this was just

00:57:20a business transaction.

00:57:21Their lawyer

00:57:22was an older,

00:57:23elegant man

00:57:23with the kind

00:57:24of confidence

00:57:25that comes from

00:57:25winning similar cases before.

00:57:27When he began

00:57:28his opening statement,

00:57:29his strategy was clear.

00:57:31To portray me

00:57:32as a confused old woman

00:57:33who had been

00:57:34manipulated by strangers

00:57:35to alienate me

00:57:37from my loving family.

00:57:38Your Honor,

00:57:40he said in a solemn voice.

00:57:42Mrs. Renati Richter

00:57:43has shown a clear

00:57:44mental decline

00:57:45in recent months.

00:57:46She has cut off

00:57:47all financial support

00:57:48for her family

00:57:48without a rational explanation.

00:57:51She has installed

00:57:51unnecessary security systems

00:57:53due to paranoia,

00:57:55and has isolated herself

00:57:56from her loved ones

00:57:57under the influence

00:57:57of neighbors and lawyers

00:57:58who are obviously

00:57:59taking advantage

00:58:00of her vulnerable situation.

00:58:02Every word

00:58:03had been carefully chosen

00:58:04to make my self-empowerment

00:58:05sound like dementia,

00:58:07and my freedom

00:58:07sound like external manipulation.

00:58:10Then they called

00:58:11their witnesses.

00:58:12Lena was the first

00:58:13to testify,

00:58:14and her performance

00:58:15was Oscar-worthy.

00:58:17She cried

00:58:18as she described

00:58:19how I had completely changed,

00:58:21how I had become

00:58:22hostile and paranoid,

00:58:24how I had isolated myself

00:58:26from the family

00:58:26that loved me.

00:58:28Your Honor,

00:58:30she said in a trembling voice.

00:58:32Renati has always been

00:58:33like a second mom to me.

00:58:35Seeing her mental decline

00:58:37has been devastating.

00:58:38We just want to help her

00:58:39get the care she needs.

00:58:41Lies,

00:58:42wrapped in convincing tears.

00:58:45When Mr. Weber

00:58:46cross-examined her,

00:58:47the cracks in her story

00:58:49began to become visible.

00:58:51Mrs. Schuster,

00:58:52can you tell the court,

00:58:53when was the last time

00:58:54you called my client

00:58:55without asking for money?

00:58:57Lena stammered.

00:58:59Well, we always talked

00:59:00about many things.

00:59:01Can you give me

00:59:02a specific date?

00:59:04I don't remember

00:59:05exact dates.

00:59:07Is it true

00:59:09that you and your husband

00:59:10got married

00:59:10without inviting my client?

00:59:13It was a very small ceremony.

00:59:17Is it true

00:59:18that when my client

00:59:19asked about the wedding,

00:59:20you told her

00:59:22that you had only invited

00:59:23special people?

00:59:25Lena's face turned red.

00:59:27Those words

00:59:28were taken out of context.

00:59:30What would be

00:59:31the right context

00:59:32to tell your mother-in-law

00:59:34that she is not

00:59:35a special person?

00:59:37She couldn't answer convincingly.

00:59:39Max was next.

00:59:41Seeing him

00:59:41on the witness stand,

00:59:42swearing to tell the truth

00:59:44while preparing to lie

00:59:45about my mental health,

00:59:46was one of the most

00:59:47painful moments

00:59:48of my life.

00:59:49This was the boy

00:59:50I had raised alone,

00:59:51the one I had dedicated

00:59:52my entire life to.

00:59:55My mom has always

00:59:56been very generous

00:59:57with us,

00:59:58he testified.

00:59:59But lately,

01:00:00she has become erratic

01:00:01and irrational.

01:00:03We believe she is

01:00:04being manipulated

01:00:04by people who are

01:00:05taking advantage of her.

01:00:08When Mr. Weber

01:00:08cross-examined him,

01:00:10the mask fell completely.

01:00:12Mr. Richter,

01:00:14how much money

01:00:14have you received

01:00:15from your mother

01:00:16in the last three years?

01:00:17I don't know

01:00:19the exact amount.

01:00:20Does $33,400

01:00:22sound about right?

01:00:24Maybe.

01:00:25She's always been generous.

01:00:27And how many times

01:00:28have you visited

01:00:28your mother

01:00:29without asking her

01:00:30for money?

01:00:31The silence

01:00:32was deafening.

01:00:33Is it true

01:00:34that you and your wife

01:00:35broke into my client's house

01:00:36without permission

01:00:37and checked

01:00:37her private documents?

01:00:39We were worried

01:00:40about her.

01:00:41Is it true

01:00:41that you brought

01:00:42a lawyer to pressure

01:00:43her into signing

01:00:44a power of attorney?

01:00:45We wanted to help

01:00:46her manage her finances.

01:00:48Do you,

01:00:49at 35 years old,

01:00:50need the help

01:00:51of your 71-year-old mother

01:00:52to pay your rent?

01:00:54Max couldn't answer

01:00:55with dignity.

01:00:56Mr. Davis testified

01:00:58about my supposed

01:00:59erratic behaviors,

01:01:00but when Mr. Weber

01:01:01asked him for details,

01:01:03he admitted

01:01:03that he had never

01:01:04spoken to me directly

01:01:05and that all his information

01:01:07was based on

01:01:08superficial observations.

01:01:10Dr. Lehman testified

01:01:12that my refusal

01:01:13to undergo an evaluation

01:01:14was proof

01:01:15of mental decline.

01:01:17But Mr. Weber

01:01:18submitted the documentation

01:01:19of our evaluation

01:01:21with Dr. Moore,

01:01:22which completely

01:01:23refuted his conclusions.

01:01:25Then it was our turn.

01:01:27Mr. Weber

01:01:27first called Mr. Green,

01:01:29my pharmacist,

01:01:31who explained

01:01:31how he had been tricked

01:01:32into signing a statement

01:01:33that distorted

01:01:34my medication-buying habits.

01:01:37Dr. Moore testified

01:01:38about my excellent

01:01:39mental state

01:01:40and presented the results

01:01:41of the cognitive tests,

01:01:43which had been flawless.

01:01:45Mr. Sommer

01:01:46from the hardware store

01:01:47testified about

01:01:47my mental competence

01:01:48and explained

01:01:50that my decisions

01:01:50to cancel automatic transfers

01:01:52were completely rational

01:01:53and had been

01:01:54processed correctly.

01:01:57Eleanor and my friends

01:01:57from the garden club

01:01:58testified about

01:01:59my clarity,

01:02:01my newfound vitality,

01:02:02and my ability

01:02:03to maintain

01:02:04healthy social relationships.

01:02:06Finally,

01:02:07it was my turn

01:02:08to testify.

01:02:08I stood up

01:02:10with dignity

01:02:10and walked

01:02:11to the witness stand,

01:02:12feeling the weight

01:02:13of 71 years

01:02:14of experience,

01:02:16of wisdom

01:02:16gained through pain,

01:02:18of strength

01:02:18discovered in adversity.

01:02:21Mr. Weber

01:02:21guided me

01:02:22through my testimony,

01:02:24letting me tell

01:02:24my whole story.

01:02:26The $33,400

01:02:28spent in three years,

01:02:30the humiliation

01:02:31of being excluded

01:02:32from the wedding,

01:02:33the constant

01:02:34emotional manipulation,

01:02:36the violation

01:02:37of my privacy,

01:02:39the legal threats.

01:02:41Mrs. Richter,

01:02:42Mr. Weber

01:02:43finally asked,

01:02:44why did you decide

01:02:45to stop financial support

01:02:47for your son

01:02:47and daughter-in-law?

01:02:49Because I finally

01:02:49understood that

01:02:50what I was getting

01:02:51from them

01:02:51was not love,

01:02:53I replied

01:02:53in a clear,

01:02:54loud voice.

01:02:56It was a commercial

01:02:56transaction disguised

01:02:58as a family relationship.

01:02:59My money was welcome,

01:03:01but I as a person

01:03:02was not.

01:03:03Do you regret

01:03:04your decision?

01:03:04I only regret

01:03:06that it took me

01:03:07so long to make it.

01:03:09Max's lawyer

01:03:10tried to make me

01:03:11appear confused

01:03:12during his cross-examination,

01:03:14but I answered

01:03:15every one of his questions

01:03:16with clarity

01:03:17and precision.

01:03:18When he tried

01:03:19to imply

01:03:20that my new friendships

01:03:21had manipulated me,

01:03:22I explained to him

01:03:23that for the first time

01:03:25in years,

01:03:26I had relationships

01:03:27based on mutual respect

01:03:28and not on financial interest.

01:03:31In his closing argument,

01:03:32Max's lawyer insisted

01:03:34that I was a victim

01:03:35of external manipulation.

01:03:38Mr. Weber's rebuttal

01:03:39was devastating.

01:03:40Your Honor,

01:03:41what we have seen here

01:03:42is not the case

01:03:43of an incompetent old woman,

01:03:45but that of a woman

01:03:46who has finally found

01:03:48the strength

01:03:48to free herself

01:03:49from years of financial

01:03:51and emotional abuse.

01:03:53The plaintiffs

01:03:53have presented

01:03:54no real medical evidence

01:03:56of mental incompetence.

01:03:57What they have presented

01:03:58is frustration,

01:04:00because their source

01:04:01of income has decided

01:04:02to exercise her legal

01:04:03and moral right

01:04:04to protect her own resources.

01:04:07Judge Miller retired

01:04:08to deliberate

01:04:09for two hours

01:04:10that felt like two years.

01:04:12When he came back,

01:04:13his expression

01:04:14was serious but clear.

01:04:16After reviewing

01:04:17all the evidence presented,

01:04:19he began,

01:04:20it is obvious

01:04:20to this court

01:04:21that Mrs. Renate Richter

01:04:23is in full possession

01:04:24of her mental faculties.

01:04:26Professional psychiatric

01:04:27evaluations

01:04:28confirm her cognitive competence.

01:04:30Her financial decisions,

01:04:32as painful as they may be

01:04:34for her family,

01:04:35are completely rational

01:04:36and within her rights.

01:04:39My heart began

01:04:40to beat faster.

01:04:42Furthermore,

01:04:43the judge continued,

01:04:45the evidence suggests

01:04:46that this lawsuit

01:04:47is motivated

01:04:48by financial interest

01:04:49rather than

01:04:50by genuine concern

01:04:52for Mrs. Richter's

01:04:53well-being.

01:04:54The court completely denies

01:04:56the request

01:04:56for guardianship.

01:04:58I had won.

01:04:59I had not only

01:05:00won the lawsuit

01:05:01but also my freedom,

01:05:03my dignity,

01:05:04my right to live free

01:05:05from the abuse

01:05:06of those who supposedly

01:05:07loved me.

01:05:09When we left

01:05:09the courthouse,

01:05:10I saw Max and Lena

01:05:12talking angrily

01:05:13with their lawyer.

01:05:14Lena gave me

01:05:15a look of pure hatred

01:05:16before she walked away.

01:05:18Max looked at me

01:05:18one last time

01:05:20and for a second,

01:05:21I saw something

01:05:22that could have been regret

01:05:23but it was already

01:05:24too late.

01:05:25That night,

01:05:26Eleanor organized

01:05:27a celebration

01:05:28at my house

01:05:28with all our friends.

01:05:30We toasted to justice,

01:05:32to freedom,

01:05:33to the sisterhood

01:05:33of strong women

01:05:34who support each other.

01:05:36Renata,

01:05:37Elfrida told me,

01:05:38today you didn't

01:05:39just win a trial,

01:05:41you won back

01:05:41your life.

01:05:43She was right.

01:05:44For the first time

01:05:45in years,

01:05:46the future

01:05:47was completely mine.

01:05:49I could travel,

01:05:50I could love,

01:05:51I could create,

01:05:52I could live

01:05:53without fear,

01:05:54without guilt,

01:05:54without manipulation.

01:05:56Three months later,

01:05:57I sold my house

01:05:58and moved to

01:05:59a beautiful apartment

01:06:00near the city center.

01:06:02I donated half

01:06:03of my money

01:06:03to organizations

01:06:04that protect the elderly

01:06:05from family abuse.

01:06:07With the other half,

01:06:08I began to live

01:06:09the life I had

01:06:10always wanted.

01:06:11I traveled through Europe,

01:06:13took art classes,

01:06:14and joined volunteer groups.

01:06:16I never heard

01:06:17from Max and Lena again.

01:06:19I heard from others

01:06:20that they had to move

01:06:21to a smaller apartment

01:06:22and that Lena

01:06:23had found a job

01:06:24for the first time

01:06:25in years.

01:06:26Perhaps the adversity

01:06:27would teach them

01:06:28what my generosity

01:06:29never could,

01:06:31the value of honest work

01:06:32and independence.

01:06:34Some nights,

01:06:36when I look at the stars

01:06:37from my new balcony,

01:06:38I think about the woman

01:06:39I was a year ago,

01:06:41fearful,

01:06:42manipulated,

01:06:43believing I had

01:06:44to buy love.

01:06:46That woman is dead,

01:06:47and in her place,

01:06:49someone has been born

01:06:50who has understood

01:06:51a fundamental truth.

01:06:52true love never

01:06:54has a price,

01:06:55and freedom

01:06:56is never too expensive.

01:06:58My name is Renati.

01:07:00I am 72 years old,

01:07:02and I have finally learned

01:07:03that the most important person

01:07:05I have to love

01:07:06and protect

01:07:06is myself.

01:07:08If you liked my story,

01:07:10you can support me

01:07:11by making a donation

01:07:12so I can write more stories.

01:07:14Thank you in advance.

01:07:16And you,

01:07:16what would you do

01:07:17in this person's place?

01:07:19I would love

01:07:19to hear your opinion,

01:07:20so please share it

01:07:22with me in the comments.

01:07:23I'm always curious

01:07:24about what you all think.

01:07:26And also,

01:07:26write me where you heard

01:07:27this story.

01:07:28For more life stories

01:07:29like this,

01:07:30like the video,

01:07:30and subscribe to my channel.

01:07:32There are many other stories

01:07:33waiting for you.

01:07:35With heartfelt greetings

01:07:36until next time,

01:07:37Em.

01:07:38You're welcome.

01:07:38I'm just curious

01:07:39to see you next time.

I asked when the wedding is and my daughter-in-law said：＂We got married yesterday!＂

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I asked when the wedding is and my daughter-in-law said：＂We got married yesterday!＂