Inside? Artisan toothpicks. “Thought you’d like something practical—for your work,” he said, as his family burst into laughter.
I sat frozen while they laughed at me. The PS5 sat heavy on my lap, suddenly meaningless.
I excused myself and locked myself in the bathroom, sobbing.
The betrayal wasn’t about the cheap gift, but about being humiliated for laughs by people I had worked so hard to impress.
As I opened the door, Brandon stood outside with his sister… recording me on her phone.
“It’s just for the family group chat,” she said.
That was it. I snapped. Back in the dining room, I picked up the PS5 and looked Brandon dead in the eye.
“I spent three months saving for this because I thought you were worth it.”
Then I smashed it on the floor. Gasps. Silence.
“I thought this family was worth it,” I said. “But you’re not. You’re just bullies in designer clothes.”
I walked out with my head held high.
The next day, Brandon appeared with a designer bag, saying the prank wasn’t his idea and that this was my “real” gift.
I gave it back.
His mother called me to scold me for “ruining” Family Day.
I didn’t care.
That night, sipping tea with my mom, I realized something more important: I didn’t ruin anything. I saved myself.
Because love should never come at the cost of your dignity. And the bravest thing I did that day was choose me.
