When I got my salary bump, my husband, Mark, and I decided to keep it quiet. But word got out, and soon my sister-in-law, Karen, called.

“Congrats on the raise! Could you help with Emily’s birthday party? It’s about $2,000,” she asked.

“Two thousand? That’s a lot for a kid’s party,” I replied.

“Oh, come on, Sarah. It’s nothing for you now, right? Emily loves you,” Karen insisted.

Against my better judgment, I agreed. On the party day, Mark and I arrived at a dingy café. Emily’s face fell, and my anger rose.

“Karen, where did the money go?” I confronted her.

“It’s just a kid’s party,” she said, dismissive.

“You promised something special. Show me receipts,” I demanded.

Karen admitted, “I didn’t keep any.”

“Return the money,” I insisted, “I’m taking the kids to an amusement park.”

At the park, Emily’s smile was worth it. Karen’s manipulation had failed. Reflecting on my actions, I felt a mix of anger and relief.

Later, Karen struggled to repay the money, but each payment showed her effort. One day, handing over the final repayment, she said, “I’m sorry for what I did. I’ll do better.”

“Thank you, Karen,” I replied. “Let’s move forward.”

Our relationship slowly mended, built on mutual respect and understanding.