My brother Noah and I were always close, but everything changed when he got engaged to Vanessa. From the very beginning, something about her felt off—too eager, too interested in our family’s wealth, traditions, and especially our inheritance. Still, I bit my tongue for Noah’s sake, hoping I was just being overly protective. As the wedding plans moved forward, the tension simmered just beneath the surface. It became harder to ignore when Vanessa began pushing for her two,
kids from a previous relationship to be included in our family’s inheritance. She called it unfair—cruel, even—that they wouldn’t be treated like “real” heirs. Most of us were stunned by how bold she was, but I kept quiet, watching and waiting. Then came Easter dinner. Out of nowhere, she blindsided the entire family by demanding Noah cancel the prenup and insisting that her children receive equal shares of our family estate. The entitlement in her voice was jarring. The room fell silent,