At my grandmother’s will reading, my mother sat in front of fourteen silent people, watched the lawyer read out a $2.3 million estate that somehow included everyone but me, then turned with a smile so calm it felt practiced and said, “You were always her least favorite.” And for one humiliating second, I thought she had finally found the perfect way to erase me in public.

As the reading continued, it became clear that my name was not included in any of the primary bequests and a heavy silence settled over the room as the other fourteen guests realized I had been snubbed. Marilyn turned to me with a sharp smile and told me not to look so surprised because she claimed I was always Rosalind’s least favorite child.

“You would probably just waste her hard earned money on your little school projects or give it away to people who do not deserve it,” Marilyn sneered while the rest of the room watched us. I simply looked her in the eyes and told her that I was listening carefully to every word being said while keeping my hands perfectly still in my lap.

Mr. Banks looked visibly uncomfortable as he finished reading the amended terms and that was when the man in the corner, Mr. Felix Covington, stood up and asked for everyone’s attention. He introduced himself as a senior partner from a different firm and explained that Rosalind had retained his services seven years ago for a completely separate legal matter.