Okay, so this happened a few weeks ago and my family is still divided over it.

My younger brother "Jake" (23m) has always been the golden child in our family. Charming, funny, gets away with everything. I love him, but it’s been frustrating being the “responsible one” while he’s constantly bailed out by our parents.

A few weeks ago, during a small family dinner, my cousin accidentally let slip that Jake had dropped out of university over a year ago. This was news to my parents, who have still been paying his tuition and rent, thinking he was in his final year.

When my parents asked Jake about it, he tried to play it off like he “wasn’t sure what he wanted to do” and didn’t want to “worry them.” They were shocked but kind of brushed it off, like, “he just needs some time.”

Meanwhile, I was furious. Not only did he lie for over a year, but he let them waste thousands thinking he was still in school. They even took out part of a loan for him last semester.

Here’s where I might be the asshole: I couldn’t hold it in anymore. So I told my parents this wasn’t the first time Jake had lied. I brought up several things I had covered for him over the years—crashing my car and blaming someone else, stealing money from our dad’s wallet, lying about job interviews, sneaking into my apartment to steal my meds when he “lost his prescription,” etc. I said they were enabling him and needed to stop treating him like a child.

Jake stormed out. My parents were devastated—not just at Jake, but also at me for “ambushing him” and “dragging up the past.” My mom said I was cruel, and that I made things worse. My dad’s been quiet, but I know he’s hurt.

Jake hasn’t spoken to me since.