Minnie and I are a year apart; she is 31, and I am 30. Growing up, my sister often told me she was jealous of me and that she disliked me. It made me sad because she was my only sibling, and I loved and admired her. I always looked up to her and tried to be close, but she pushed me away. When she was happy, she was a great sister—fun and creative. However, during arguments, she would say incredibly mean things and try to harm me physically by punching, pushing, or pulling my hair. My parents would scold her for it, but it never stopped.
Minnie had an outgoing personality with a passion for the arts, excelling in makeup and fashion. I was more academically inclined. Because my mom started me in school early, we ended up in the same grade, which Minnie hated. She saw me as competition. My average grades of B’s and A’s seemed stellar compared to her C’s and B’s, though her real strengths were in art, drama, and dance.
Things took a turn when she was kicked off the drama team after a fight. Minnie discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her with another girl from the department. In response, Minnie beat the girl up and set her bag on fire. The incident got her expelled, and though my parents managed to smooth things over, she had to repeat 11th grade. The incident severely damaged her relationship with our parents, who were disappointed in her for a very long time.
Her jealousy began to actively sabotage my life. The longest romantic relationship I had lasted only six months, thanks to her. Every time I had a decent relationship, she would jeopardize it. I really liked a guy named Derek. We had been together for four months, and things were getting serious. The night before we were supposed to meet each other’s parents, he blocked me everywhere.
I showed up at his house, uninvited, demanding to know what happened. He hesitated before admitting that my sister had contacted him, sharing stories about my alleged past that painted me in a negative light. She had told him I was talking to other guys and sending inappropriate pictures to friends. I was mortified.
“Why would your own sister lie about something so serious?” Derek asked, confused.
I felt like crying as I explained her lifelong jealousy. But the damage was done. He couldn’t continue a relationship with someone who had such a troublesome sister. Heartbroken, I confronted Minnie. After a lot of yelling, she admitted to feeling insecure. “It was always so easy for you to find good-looking guys,” she spat. “I thought you were too good for Derek, so I made it all up to drive him away.”
My parents reprimanded her, but she didn’t care. She got what she wanted. That was the turning point. I realized if I ever wanted a healthy, lasting romantic connection, I couldn’t have her near me.
We both dreamed of studying abroad. Minnie, despite her potential, followed our dad’s advice and pursued computer science in our home country. I, on the other hand, worked tirelessly to secure a scholarship to study overseas. On my last night at home, Minnie apologized for everything she had ever done. Perhaps it was because I was finally leaving, giving her our parents’ undivided attention. Tired of the drama, I forgave her.
Studying abroad transformed me. I gained confidence, discovered my personal style, and after a tough year of job hunting post-graduation, I landed a great job and settled down. Meanwhile, Minnie finished her bachelor’s and decided she wanted to pursue her master’s in the country where I lived. When she came to visit for ten days, the old tensions resurfaced. She criticized my clothes, my friends, my life. When I showed her my huge office, she went quiet, not a hint of happiness for me in her eyes. Instead, she lamented her own choices.
That evening, she announced she wanted to extend her vacation and live with me. I politely refused. “It’s better if you find your own accommodations,” I told her. “You clearly have some issues with me and refuse to talk about them.”
That’s when Minnie lost her mind. “I’m sick and tired of having you in my life!” she yelled. “Everyone compares me to you! My achievements are never enough!”
“I never treated you that way!” I shot back. “It was you who always made me feel inferior!”
“You’re not anything special!” she screamed. “I could have done the same things if I had the same opportunities!”
“We did have the same opportunities!” I reminded her. “I worked my ass off to secure a scholarship while you’re failing to get one and blaming me for it!”
The argument ended with her telling me she wished I was never born. I locked myself in my room, and she flew home two days later without an apology. I could finally breathe.
Eventually, I met James. He worked in the same industry, and we connected instantly. We dated for two years before he proposed. My life took another turn when I received a job offer that would double my salary, but the catch was it was back in my home country. James and I agreed it was a life-changing opportunity, and we moved.
My parents adored James, but Minnie avoided us like the plague, making up excuses to not meet. I didn’t mind; I was terrified she’d try to sabotage this relationship, too.
James and I decided on a small, intimate wedding in my parents’ backyard. It was a beautiful day filled with love and laughter. The only person missing was Minnie. She claimed to have a fever.
A week after our honeymoon, I was at my mother’s place when Minnie showed up. She started by asking if James and I were having financial troubles. “I mean, you got married in the backyard,” she sneered.
My mother defended me, but Minnie pressed on, accusing me of lying about my salary to show off.
“I don’t need to show off in front of you,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “We’re not children anymore. You need to grow up. This is why I was glad you didn’t come to my wedding.”
That sent her storming out in tears. She later twisted the story to our relatives, painting me as the villain. I apologized via text, but she never replied.
Over the years, things only got worse. Minnie married a man named Larry, who was jobless and had a temper. Their wedding was marred by him getting drunk and starting a fight with a waiter. Their marriage was a cycle of explosive fights, with Larry frequently kicking her out of their home. My parents were concerned, but Minnie refused to talk. We later heard from Larry’s mother that Minnie had cheated on him. They tried couples counseling, but it was clear their relationship was toxic.
This year, I found out I was pregnant. James and I were over the moon. When Minnie learned the news, her first instinct was to try and control the naming process. I shut her down firmly. This was our baby, our choice.
For the baby shower, I asked my mother to handle the planning, wanting only a simple gathering with close friends. On the day of the event, I was having a wonderful time when Minnie arrived, wearing a shirt that said, “Godmother-to-be.” I was shocked. She had never even discussed it with me.
Later, my husband, father, and Larry joined us for the gender reveal. As James and I cut the cake, we were thrilled to discover we were having a baby boy. As friends hugged us, Minnie stood up.
“I have something very important to say,” she announced, her expression solemn. She held up a document. “A few days ago, she apparently went for a paternity test and found out that James is not the father of my baby.”
The room fell silent. James turned to me, his face a mask of confusion and hurt. “What is happening?” he asked. “Is what she’s saying true?”
I shook my head, speechless. My mother snatched the document from Minnie’s hand. “What the hell are you up to?” she demanded, pointing out that my name wasn’t even on the paper.
That’s when Minnie started to laugh. With a smug look, she revealed it was a fake paternity test downloaded from the internet. “I wanted to prove a point,” she declared. “I wanted to expose James for who he is! He’s abusive!”
The room was in shock. “My husband has never even raised his voice at me!” I yelled. She claimed that no man could be happy with a partner earning more, pointing to James’s anger as proof.
“He got pissed because you publicly humiliated me!” I screamed back. “My husband has never abused me or locked me out of our house! You seem to be projecting!”
Minnie’s face turned red. I couldn’t stop myself. “I am so sick of you being jealous of me my entire life! It’s disgusting that you would turn my baby shower into this fiasco!” I recounted her history of lying to my ex-boyfriends. Minnie stood there, utterly humiliated.
“You’ve gone too far this time,” my mother told her.
Then, out of nowhere, her husband Larry, who had been silent, stood up. He walked to Minnie and handed her a stack of papers.
“What is this?” she questioned.
“The marriage counseling isn’t working,” Larry said, his voice flat. “I’ve realized we’re toxic for each other. I was going to give you these tonight, but since you like making a scene… I’m done with you and your drama.” He turned and walked out.
The room was thick with an uneasy silence. Minnie stood stunned, holding the divorce papers. Her attempt to ruin my day had spectacularly backfired, unraveling her own life instead. I asked James to take me home. As we left, Minnie tried to apologize, but I didn’t even look at her.
Updates
It’s been a month. After the incident, I spoke with my parents, and we all agreed to sever ties with Minnie. She shows no remorse, instead telling people that I overreacted to her “prank” and caused her husband to divorce her. Larry has since spoken to my parents. He apologized for his past behavior and revealed that Minnie was the physically abusive one in their relationship, showing them pictures of a broken nose and a black eye he said she gave him. It was a shock. My parents have told Minnie she is no longer welcome in their home or mine and that if she comes near me or the baby, we will get a restraining order. She has refused their pleas to seek professional help.
It’s been eight months now. I’m happy to report I recently gave birth to my baby boy, Alex. James and I are adjusting to being parents, and my family has been incredibly supportive. Minnie has not disturbed us. The last I heard, her divorce from Larry was finalized, and she moved to a different city to start fresh. I feel sad that my sister cannot be a part of this celebration, but as a parent, I know I have to protect my little one.