After My Brother Died, He Gave Me Everything — Now His Daughter Says I Stole What Was Hers

I never imagined my own family would see me as the villain. I thought I had a decent relationship with my niece and supported her in reasonable ways over the years. But everything changed recently.

When my niece was three, my brother died in a tragic accident. He was a single father, and his death devastated our family. In his will, he left all of his money to me. That was his decision. I didn’t ask for it, but he trusted me.

I showered my niece with love and support over the years. I helped when I could, showed up for milestones, bought her gifts, and tried to be there for her emotionally. But I was never her parent, and I never agreed to be her financial provider.

Now she’s nineteen and preparing for college. Out of nowhere, she called me and said, “Send me dad’s money. I need it for college.”

I told her the truth: the money is legally mine. Her father left it to me, not to her. I also explained that I need it for my own son’s education. I wasn’t rude — just honest.

She hung up and then told relatives and friends that I was stealing her inheritance. Messages flooded in calling me selfish and heartless.

What hurt most wasn’t the money. It was the way she treated me — turning our relationship into a demand. If she had asked respectfully, I might have helped in other ways.

Now she won’t speak to me at all. I’m left wondering: am I truly wrong, or are people choosing sides without understanding the truth?