My Mother-in-Law Demanded $600 to Let My Kids Join the Family Trip,

The day after burying my parents, I became an adult at 18, vowing to protect my six-year-old brother, Max, from being taken away. On my birthday, also the funeral day, I promised Max, “I won’t let anyone take you.” But Aunt Diane and Uncle Gary, who barely knew Max, filed for custody, eyeing his $200,000 trust fund. I dropped out of college, took two jobs, and moved us into a tiny apartment. Diane falsely accused me of neglecting Max, but our neighbor, Ms. Harper, defended my care in court. I overheard Diane and Gary plotting to use Max’s trust fund for

personal gain and recorded it. In court, the recording exposed their scheme, leading to their fraud investigation and my full guardianship of Max. Two years later, I work full-time, study online, and Max thrives in second grade. We’re safe, together, and unbreakable, proving love is measured by the fight to protect it.