My sister Chloe phoned me last week, expressing how much she missed me and suggested staying over since we both had some free time. Being students in different states—she's about to graduate her college while I'm midway through mine—I was excited about the idea and agreed immediately.

Chloe arrived and settled into my small one-bedroom apartment, utilizing the couch as her bed. The first couple of days, Monday and Tuesday, were fantastic. We spent quality time catching up, wandering through malls, and just enjoying each other’s company. But then Wednesday rolled around, and I had to leave for work. I made sure she was comfortable alone at home, and she didn’t seem to mind at all.

During my lunch break that day, panic set in when I couldn’t find my wallet. I always keep my valuables, like my phone, keys, and wallet, in a concealed section of my backpack. I texted Chloe, asking if she had seen it anywhere. She responded no but offered to search for it. Thankfully, I had Apple Pay, so buying lunch wasn't an issue.

When I returned that evening, Chloe claimed she found my wallet atop my sock drawer. However, I was certain it wasn't there when I checked the previous morning, which raised my suspicions. A quick glance at my online banking app confirmed my fears: a total of $1545.32 was missing from my accounts. The realization that Chloe could be responsible for this was heartbreaking. When I confronted her and mentioned involving the police, she broke down and admitted to stealing the money.

I knew Chloe had always been the family favorite, rarely facing consequences for her actions, but this was too much. Despite her tears and protests, and even attempts to physically stop me, I dialed 911. She then locked herself in the bedroom and hysterically called our parents, who immediately flooded my phone with call attempts.

Talking with the dispatcher, I managed to explain everything just before the local officer arrived. During the wait, I saw about 30 missed calls from mom and dad, which I chose to ignore until after the officer had handled the situation. Once he took Chloe into custody and accepted my evidence, it was confirmed she would be charged with a felony for the amount stolen.

The aftermath was just as tough; calling my parents later only led to them scolding me, insisting they could've resolved the money issue quickly and accusing me of ruining Chloe’s life.

Reflecting on the situation, I'm left wondering if standing up for myself was somehow wrong. Especially if this ordeal were part of a reality TV show, imagine the drama that would ensue! Would viewers take my side for enforcing consequences, or would they criticize me for not settling the issue privately within family boundaries?

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