From the beginning of my life it was made clear to me that my brother as the favourite- the Heir to the estate and I was just a mistake. I was the last ditch attempt to save my parents marriage and, according to my mother was the biggest mistake she'd made, even though they were together until I was in my teenage years.
My brother and I were both sent to boarding school and it was paid for out of a family trust fund and that ensured that the schools were comparable. My grandfather was in charge and he despised how my mother treated me. If it was left to her I wouldn't have had any private education or allowed to go to university.
I was told I was useless, fat and ugly and would never amount to much. My brother got all the good birthday and Christmas presents and i got cheap tat. My grandmother had left me her jewellery, but my mother wouldn't let me have it - it eventually went to my sister in law.
I was married off at 21. It was very much an arranged marriage to someone suitable. As far as my mother was concerned that was it and I was off her hands. I went along with it because he was a very good looking, glamorous man and it meant I could access the trust fund that my great grandfather set up for all his great grandchildren. I have found out in recent years that my mother tried to keep some of the money from me saying that my brother needed it more.
Anyway, the marriage was a disaster. He spent all of his own money and all of mine and took out huge debts in my name. He was abusive and violent and when I went to leave him I asked my mother if I could stay with her for a few months until I was sorted financially. She refused as my brothers wife was pregnant and she didn't want me around (my sister in law is very much like my mother and the crap I've had from her could fill a thread) and she refused to upset her. So I was left homeless and had to sofa surf until i got enough money to rent a bedsit and find a new job in a different part of the country.
I was sent an invite to the baby's christening but my mother rung me to tell me not to bother coming as they had invited too many people and there wouldn't be room for everyone.
My relationship with my brother was great when we were kids because he was a kind and decent person who protected me. But as we got older and he met his wife, who didn't like me on spot, it's deteriorated. The last contact I had with him was when our mother was dying last year. He wanted to know if I would help with the funeral costs. I refused. She rang me and gave me a mouthful of abuse, calling me selfish and ignorant, ugly, fat and stupid and wishes that she'd aborted me. I hung up and three days later she'd died. Good riddance. I did go to her funeral, but only to ,ale sure the old bitch was actually dead.