Jonathan always dreamed of becoming a lawyer and worked hard to achieve it. At first, he gladly helped his family with small legal issues, but soon they began treating him like their free, personal attorney. Family gatherings turned into work sessions with papers to review, and late-night calls for advice became constant. Feeling overwhelmed, Jonathan started avoiding his relatives to protect his peace.
The situation escalated when his cousin got into serious trouble, and Jonathan’s aunt demanded he represent him in court for free. Jonathan finally stood his ground and refused, but his family turned on him, calling him selfish and ungrateful. A week later, Jonathan was shocked to learn his cousin had lied to the entire family, telling them Jonathan had agreed to take the case.
Relatives began flooding him with calls and messages, praising him for “saving” his cousin, and the rumor quickly spread. At the next family gathering, Jonathan confronted everyone, revealing the truth. His cousin casually admitted to lying, claiming it sounded better than saying no one was willing to help. Jonathan was furious and hurt, unsure if he should continue defending himself or give in.
In the end, Jonathan realized that his cousin was manipulating him and that it wasn’t his responsibility to fix someone else’s mistakes. While his family saw him as the bad guy, Jonathan chose to protect his career and well-being, even if it meant distancing himself from those who couldn’t respect his boundaries.