When Her Stepson Rejected Her College Fund Offer, She Let Him Go — 5 Years Later, He Asked for a Favor He’d Live to RegretI married David five years before his teenage son Josh moved in. From day one, Josh made it clear: I wasn’t his mom, and he didn’t want me pretending to be.

He mocked everything—my hobbies, my age, where I came from. I tried, I really did. Cooked his favorite meals, suggested movie nights. Nothing worked. The words “You’re not my mom” were his constant refrain.By his senior year, college was looming and money was tight. I had an inheritance sitting untouched, so I offered to pay his tuition. Not to buy love—just to give him a future.

“You can’t buy your way into being my mom,” he sneered.David nodded. “He’s right.”That was the moment I stopped trying.Five years passed. I became invisible to Josh—until he called out of the blue.He was getting married. Destination wedding. Expensive. I wasn’t invited, but he wanted money.“If you care about this family,” he said, “you’ll help.”I said no.

David was furious. “This was your chance to fix things.”Fix what? Years of hostility?till, I agreed to dinner with Josh and his fiancée, Kelsey. I said I’d bring a check.At dinner, they gushed about their $75,000 dream wedding. I left the table, returned with a folder.Inside: a check—and a contract.If they took my money, Josh would agree to treat me like a mother. Invite me to family events. Call me Mom.He signed.hen I smiled, took the papers… and tossed them into the fireplace.“You just proved I could buy my way in,” I said. “It was just about price.”Then I handed David a second envelope.Divorce papers.I won’t be part of a family that only values me for my checkbook.”And I walked away—for good.Some things can’t be bought. And if someone tries to sell them? Believe who they are.