When I was just an ordinary worker, struggling away for a pittance like everyone else, all my relatives seemed to adore me. They invited me to every family gathering, always lent a hand when I needed help.
But I grew weary of that sort of life. I decided to build my own business from scratch, though I had barely a pound to my name. My parents had died when I was nineteenthey were in a car crash.
My aunt had married a wealthy man. I imagined she could help me, but I was wrong.
My aunt insisted that owning a business was too risky and refused to invest any of her money. Honestly, I cant blame her. Had I been in her shoes, I mightve done the same. It was her choice, and I understood. I accepted it without feeling slighted. The bank was no option for meinterest rates were sky-high and far beyond what I could afford. I had to scrimp on everything, even food, searching for extra part-time work to save up for my business.
After some time, my thoughts sharpened. I had a crystal-clear idea of the business I wanted, a list of what I needed to make it happen, exactly how much money it would take to get off the ground, and where I stood. I steeled myself, determined not to back down. After all, Id dreamed of owning my own business since I was a child, and now, bit by bit, the chance to make it real was finally in my hands. The only thing that stung was my aunts constant mockery. Whenever I showed up anywhere, shed laugh and blurt out for all to hear,
Well, look who it is! The big businessman has arrived. What an honour, sitting at the same table as us.
When I finally managed to launch my own agency, my relativesespecially that auntwere suddenly nowhere to be seen. Still, I pressed on. Id never felt so driven. Eighteen months later, Id opened several more branches across our town.
Then, out of the blue, my aunt phoned. Her son was preparing to start university and she needed help with money and somewhere for him to stay. By then, shed divorced and was struggling to find workbarely scraping by. Shed apparently remembered me after all this time.
I refused to help her, as I had plans to expand into other cities, a move that demanded a serious investment. Her son wasnt my responsibility. Because of my refusal, my aunt cut me out completely, even though she hadnt bothered to stay in touch before
Now my branches are open and the business is booming every day. Meanwhile, my aunts son still sponges off his mother. None of our relatives will take him in or offer helpmy aunts attitude years ago had driven them all away.
