When my sister Jessica sold me her old car, I saw potential despite its rundown state. As a 22-year-old car enthusiast, I poured all my savings into restoring it, upgrading everything from the interior to the sound system. “I know it doesn’t seem like a great opportunity, but it is,” I told my girlfriend, Gabi.

One morning, Jessica barged into my house, demanding the car back. “Tom’s car broke down, and we need another vehicle,” she claimed, despite the fact that I had already spent around $5,000 on repairs. My parents sided with her, saying, “She has kids, Dustin,” as if that justified taking the car.

Gabi reminded me of the GPS and camera I had installed. The footage showed Jessica and Tom discussing selling the car for profit. Armed with this evidence and receipts for the upgrades, I visited a lawyer. We drafted a formal letter to Jessica outlining the legal consequences if she didn’t transfer the car’s title to me.

A few days later, Jessica confronted me with the letter. “What the hell is this, Dustin?” she demanded. I calmly stated, “Either you transfer the car’s title to me, or I take this to court.” Cornered, she signed the necessary documents, ensuring the car was legally mine.

Now, I enjoy the car and the lesson learned about setting boundaries. “Jess needed to learn that she can’t walk all over me just because she’s older,” I told Gabi.