My parents saved up for years for a peaceful retirement.
Our family has always been close. Our parents taught us that the most important thing is to be honest and support each other, regardless of the circumstances. So when my dad told me their retirement savings had disappeared from their account, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. At first, we thought they had been scammed. The truth, which I discovered later, was much more painful.
My parents had been saving money for years for a comfortable retirement. My dad was an engineer, my mom was a teacher – they didn’t earn much, but they always tried to save to secure their future. This money was supposed to allow them to live a comfortable life and be taken care of if they ever needed it.
When Dad told me there wasn't a penny in their account, I took action immediately. I contacted the bank to check the transaction history. It turned out that large sums had been withdrawn regularly over the past year. All the transfers were directed to one account, the number of which seemed strangely familiar to me.
I barely remembered that I had seen this number before – on my sister Karolina's documents.
Karolina had always had a weakness for luxury. As the younger sister, she was often treated with more leniency by her parents. She loved expensive clothes, going on vacation, modern gadgets. She always found a way to get what she wanted, but I never suspected that she would reach for her parents' money.
I couldn't believe what I discovered. I decided to talk to Karolina in person. We met in her modern apartment, furnished with a lavishness that never quite matched her income.
– “Karolina, I have to ask you something,” I began, trying to stay calm.
– “Something happened?– she asked, as if she didn't know what was going on.
– „Parents. Their savings. Why did you transfer their money to your account?”
A look of surprise crossed her face, which quickly turned to anger.
– “What are you talking about? I have no idea what you're on about.”
– “Don't lie, Karolina. I have a history of transactions. Everything points to you.”
Her face hardened, and a shadow of panic appeared in her eyes.
– „Okay, maybe I took a little, but it's not the end of the world. Parents don't need it anyway. Why do they need so much money? And I… I had a hard time.”
„A little” turned out to be all of it. Karolina admitted that she used access to her parents' account, which we both had as their children, to transfer money for her own needs. A new apartment, a luxury vacation, an expensive car – she financed all of this with the savings her parents had saved up throughout their lives.
I couldn't believe her selfishness.
– „Difficulties? Karolina, this is our parents' money! This is their future, their security! How could you?!”
– „Ania, stop being so dramatic. You earn well, you can help them. And I had a really hard time. Besides, they always treated you better. This is my chance to finally have something of my own.”
Her words were like a knife in the back. Could she really think that money was more important than family? That you can destroy trust in the name of your own gain?
The next day I told my parents everything. Mom was shocked, and Dad couldn't control his anger.
„I can't believe Karolina could do this to us,– Mom said, sobbing into my shoulder.
Dad called her immediately, demanding an explanation. Karolina tried to explain herself the same way she did to me, but this time she didn't find understanding.
The parents decided to report the matter to the police, although it was incredibly painful for them.
Karolina, wanting to avoid legal trouble, agreed to pay off the entire debt in installments. But even if the money comes back, trust can't be regained that easily.
Today our family is divided. Karolina rarely speaks, and the parents are still trying to understand how their own daughter could have hurt them so much. For me, it was a lesson that even the closest relationships can hide secrets and betrayals. I still love Karolina, but now I know that love doesn't always mean blind trust.
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