I destroyed our family home

My family has always been close. My mother, father, brother and myself were more like friends than family and saw each other in social circles as well as on family occasions. When my parents decided to sell the waterfront family home and move into a villa five years ago, I saw the potential for a successful business venture.

My brother was against the sale as he did not want to see the family home belong to others. He offered Mum and Dad a measly sum — less than half of what it was worth, in an attempt to keep it in the family. I, on the other hand, knew the sale of the property was important to the retirement plans of my parents. I also knew that my family would never accept the plans I had set in motion when I hired a third party to deal with the situation on my behalf.

The day of the auction arrived and my business associate won the auction with a bid $200,000 more than the reserve. My business became the new owner and no one ever suspected it was me. I pulled down our family home and built a block of units in its place. My family was crushed at what the “hideous property developers” had done to their beautiful home without ever realising it was their own daughter.

This has been a fantastic decision financially for me and I believe for my parents, as they have done things they had never dreamed of. While I don’t regret my decision for a minute, I do worry my family will find out and will never forgive me for my actions.

Picture posed by models.