Money has often been called the root of all evil, but in truth, money itself is just paper. It doesn’t change people—it simply reveals who they truly are. When faced with large amounts of money, some people show kindness, while others show greed. The following stories uncover three very different people and how they reacted when money entered the picture. One woman tried to take control of her husband’s life and wealth by kicking his son out of the house. Another person used money to mend broken family ties. And

Lydia’s gut told her something was wrong. She had felt it the moment she dropped Ellie off at Kara’s house. Something about the way Kara smiled—too wide, too perfect—sent an uneasy ripple through her chest. But Mark had rolled his eyes, telling her she was overreacting. Now, sitting in the kitchen, Lydia couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling. The clock ticked loudly, the sound stretching out the seconds. Her fingers curled around the edge of the table, foot tapping against the tiled floor. Across the kitchen, Mark stood at the counter,