It all added upperfectly.Julian’s company was nothing but an empty shell.
The remote hotel was cheap,the menu a budget-friendly package.
Julian was in a hurry to marry Anna for two reasons:her $100,000 dowry with no bride price required and the wedding gifts he could pocket.

After the wedding,Anna stopped reaching out to me.
Instead, she bombarded social media with bragging posts.
Anna:[Checked in at Maldives for our honeymoon!Thanks to my soulmate!]
[Red wine and steak,romantic candlelit dinner,just the two of us!]
[[I started crying, and when I casually glanced at a Chanel bag, my hubby bought it without a second thought!]
[Shopping with Mom.Hubby said today’s mission is buy,buy,buy—Julian’s footing the bill.What a devoted man!]

Mom:[Thanks to my daughter and son-in-law for the designer clothes.An old lady like me doesn’t deserve such expensive things—they cost thousands!]
[My son-in-law came to visit,brought so many luxury supplements that I can’t finish.Come and take some!]
Dozens of posts daily,clogging everyone’s feeds.
They didn’t know every gift of fate comes with a hidden price.

After my trip,my outstanding performance in court helped me win a major case, significantly boosting my professional reputation.
I assembled my own legal team,my career soaring.
While negotiating with a startup,Mom called,sobbing.
“Sophia,I’m at your law firm.I heard you got promoted.Please save your sister!Debt collectors attacked her and wrecked her house!”
“But she posted about gettinga new bag yesterday.What’s really going on?”
In my office,from Mom’s disjointed account,I managed to piece together the whole story.
Anna had enjoyed a short-lived life of luxury after wedding,but it didn’t last long.
Julian was a gambling addict.The$100,000 dowry and gifts vanished quickly.
He demanded money from Anna.
“What did I marry you for? Get me some cash!”
When she couldn't give him money, she got beaten.
Unwilling to lose her envied“rich wife”status,Anna took out high-interest loans to fund Julian’s splurges,maintaining her facade.
“Mom,call the police.Loansharking and gambling are illegal.Tell Anna to cut her losses.”
“No way!She finally landed a rich guy.Julian promised he’d quit gambling.A reformed man is gold.She still has a future.Besides,I’d be embarrassed—everyone back home knows she married well.”
I knew they wouldn’t listen,but I had to try.
“Look at this office—you must be making a lot of moneynow!Help your sister and brother-in-law.We’re family.I’m counting on you,Sophia.”
The same old guilt-tripping tactics.
In my past life,I’d felt sorry for Mom’s hardships and Anna’s youth,falling for her“loving mother”act.
But now I saw the pattern:when things were fine, it was all about Anna; when problems arose, it was my responsibility.