I work with contracts, so I looked up the house papers—it was still legally my parents’ home. As for Cassandra?

Legally, she was just a guest. So I asked her to lunch, recorded everything she said, and gave her and her boyfriend eviction papers. A week later, my parents were back in their home, where they belonged. The house felt warm and happy again, with laughter and Easter steaks on the grill.

As for Cassandra? She’s crashing on other people’s couches now, telling everyone we “turned on her.” But the truth is simple: family isn’t about using each other—it’s about being there and standing up for what’s right.