I Sacrificed Everything to Pay for My Daughter's College, Until One Phone Call Changed Everything — Story of the Day

I worked day and night, gave up my dreams, and ignored my health just to pay for my daughter’s college. I believed every sacrifice was worth it—until a single phone call shattered everything I thought I knew. What I discovered left me speechless.

Ever since I had children, everything I did was for them. I dedicated my life to making theirs better, and I thought I was doing a good job. But it turned out I was wrong.

I had two daughters, Emily and Grace, and I loved them with all my heart.

I raised them alone, and I will be honest — it was incredibly difficult. But I kept moving forward, for their sake.

Emily, my eldest, decided not to pursue college after high school. She told me she would get a job and build her career that way.

I did not argue, even though I really wanted her to study. But it was her life, and she had every right to choose her own path.

Grace, the younger one, had been saying since childhood that she would become a doctor.

She worked hard in school to get into university, and I supported her every step of the way.

I had once dreamed of becoming a doctor myself, but when I got pregnant, that dream slipped away.

So I put all my hopes into Grace. I worked tirelessly, despite the pain in my knee, to pay for her education.

I cleaned hotel rooms during the day and worked night shifts at the hospital as an orderly, since night work paid more. I never complained, because I knew why I was doing it.

Every time my daughters called to ask how I was doing, I always said I was fine. I did not want them to worry about me. I was their mother — it was my job to worry, not theirs.

One day, I felt especially unwell. My knee hurt terribly, and I was not sure if I could even make it to work.

But then I looked at the calendar and remembered that Grace’s tuition payment was due soon. So, I forced myself out of bed, wrapped my aching knee, and went to work.

The day was hard. I had a long list of rooms to clean, and the pain in my knee kept growing worse.

Still, I worked through it, clenching my teeth to keep going. Around lunchtime, I felt my phone vibrating in the pocket of my uniform. I pulled it out and saw the screen: Emily.

“Hi, sweetheart, how are you doing?” I greeted her as I answered the call.

“Mom, if you’re standing, I think you should sit down. I have something to tell you,” Emily urged, her voice tense.

“What is it?” I asked, lowering myself onto the bed in one of the rooms.

“Grace got expelled from university,” Emily revealed.

“What?!” To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

“Yes. She has not been attending classes for almost half a year. She skipped lectures and failed her exams,” Emily explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ve been sending her money for tuition all this time,” I responded, devastated.

“I just found out myself… Wait, you were still sending her money?” Emily asked in disbelief.

“Yes, every month. For tuition and also for her daily expenses,” I clarified.

“Oh Mom, I’m so sorry… I had no idea,” Emily murmured, her voice filled with guilt.

“Do you know where Grace is right now?” I questioned.

“Yes. I saw on social media that she’s at the pool with her friends,” Emily confessed.

“I’m going to kill her!” I snapped and hung up the phone.

I immediately called Grace, but she declined the call. She only called me back an hour later.

“Yes, Mom?” Grace responded casually.

“Where are you right now?” I asked, giving her one last chance to tell me the truth.

“At the university, of course. That’s why I didn’t answer earlier — I was in a lecture,” she replied, the little liar.

“Oh really? And what class was that?” I inquired sharply.

“Anatomy,” Grace replied briefly. “Alright, Mom, I’ll call you later. I have to run to my next class,” she added and hung up.

I could not believe that Grace was lying to me so shamelessly. But fine. I was going to catch her red-handed.

I asked for time off from work, claiming that my knee was hurting too much — which, honestly, it was.

But on any other day, I would have pushed through. This was not just any day.

So I got into my car and drove straight to the pool where Grace and her friends were hanging out.

I entered the facility and saw them immediately — a small group, Grace and three of her friends, sitting by the poolside, sipping cocktails and laughing loudly.

I walked toward them and stood right behind Grace, who had her back turned to me. She did not even notice me until one of her friends pointed in my direction.

Grace turned around and looked at me in shock. “Mom! What are you doing here?” she exclaimed.

“What am I doing here?! Shouldn’t you be in a lecture right now?!” I shouted.

“Mom, I can explain,” Grace said quickly.

“I work day and night to pay for your education — an education you are not even attending!” I cried out, furious.

“Mom, it’s not that simple. Please, let me explain,” she pleaded.

“I thought I raised you better than this, Grace. What you did… it is beyond wrong. And I honestly do not know if I will ever be able to forgive you,” I told her, my voice breaking.

“Mom, I did not mean to…” Grace murmured. I saw the tears welling up in her eyes, and despite everything, my heart ached — she was still my child.

“I postponed my knee surgery so I could pay your tuition! And this is how you repay me!” I screamed.

Those were the last words I managed to get out before I turned and walked away.

I could hear Grace calling after me, begging me to let her explain, but I could not bear to listen — not in that moment, not in the state I was in.

When I got home, I saw Emily standing outside my house.

“I came to support you,” she told me softly.

“Thank you,” I replied, and we went inside.

Emily made us some hot tea as we sat down and started discussing what Grace had done. She was furious, calling Grace every name she could think of.

“Stop it,” I said firmly. “She is still my daughter. And your sister.”

“Yes, but what she did was horrible,” Emily protested.

“I know. And she will face the consequences for it,” I replied.

Emily quieted down, but five minutes later, she started ranting about Grace again. I just sat there in silence, listening.

“Mom, I want to ask you something,” she said at one point. I looked at her, waiting. “Can you lend me the money you saved for Grace’s tuition?”

“What? Why do you need that money?” I questioned, stunned.

“I’m pregnant,” Emily announced with a smile.

I sat in silence, completely stunned, then pulled her into a tight embrace.

“What wonderful news! Of course I will give you the money,” I exclaimed. “And Roy? Is he the father?” I asked.

“Mom, who else would it be?” Emily laughed.

Emily and Roy had been dating for four years, but I asked just to be sure — they had broken up a couple of times before, even if only briefly. My joy did not last long.

Just a few minutes later, the doorbell rang, and when I opened it, I saw Grace standing there.

“I do not want to talk to you right now,” I said coldly.

“I know, but I really need to explain everything to you,” Grace insisted.

“Explain what? That I sacrificed so much for you? That I wrecked my health and life just to pay for a university that kicked you out?! I did all of it so you could chase your dream, and you—”

Grace interrupted me. “That was never my dream! It was yours!” she shouted.

“What are you saying? You wanted to be a doctor since you were a child,” I reminded her.

“Because you drilled it into my head! After you realized Emily wasn’t going to become one! It was always your dream, Mom! I just wanted to be a good daughter, to please you, to finally be seen for once,” Grace cried.

“You were always seen. Just like Emily,” I responded firmly.

“That’s not true! You always gave Emily more attention! You loved her more! Not until I said I wanted to be a doctor did you even care!” Grace yelled.

“I am sorry you felt that way. But it is not true. I love you both equally,” I said quietly.

“Oh really? Then why do you believe every word Emily says, but you won’t even give me a chance to speak?” Grace snapped.

“Shut up. Now,” Emily ordered as she appeared in the hallway.

“Why? So you can keep manipulating her?” Grace shot back.

“Grace, I’m serious. Shut your mouth right now, or you will regret it,” Emily warned, her tone threatening.

But Grace did not back down. “I was not expelled. I left the university on my own because I realized I could not, and did not want to, be a doctor,” Grace revealed. “I wanted to tell you, Mom. But Emily stopped me. She said you would hate me and never forgive me.”

“If you do not shut up right now, I swear—” Emily began, but Grace cut her off again.

“Then she started demanding money — the money you were sending me. She manipulated me, threatened to tell you everything so you would cut me off forever,” Grace said tearfully.

“Emily, why did you do that?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Mom, don’t listen to her. She’s lying,” Emily retorted quickly.

“She and Roy are broke. But they still want to live like royalty. She blew all your money on new phones, designer clothes, expensive restaurants. And when I finally decided I could not take it anymore and tried to tell you the truth, Emily beat me to it and lied to you again,” Grace revealed.

“Maybe you misunderstood. Emily is pregnant. Maybe they needed the money for the baby,” I offered weakly, still not wanting to believe it.

“She is not pregnant! They are in debt! That is what the money was really for!” Grace shouted.

Emily stepped closer, her face darkening. “I will make your life a living hell,” she hissed.

“So it is true?” I asked, my voice quiet but sharp.

“Oh please. You had the money to pay for her tuition, so what difference does it make who got it?” Emily said nonchalantly.

“I worked myself to the bone to earn that money! And you wasted it on nonsense! I will not give you another penny! And I will take you to court to get it back!” I screamed, trembling with rage.

“Pfft. Whatever. I’m sick of this poor little family anyway!” Emily barked and stormed out of the house.

“You are part of this family!” I yelled after her, but she slammed the door shut right in my face.

“I did not give everything to Emily. I saved a little bit aside. I was saving for your surgery. It is not the full amount, but it is what I could manage,” Grace whispered.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I could not speak. I could not believe how I had treated my own daughter — and yet she had still been saving money for me.

“You hate me now, don’t you?” Grace asked quietly.

I wrapped my arms around her instantly.

“No. No, sweetheart. You are my daughter. I love you so much. And I am sorry I pushed you to choose that career. You can do whatever you want with your life. It is yours to live,” I told her, my voice cracking as I heard Grace’s sobs and felt her arms hold me tightly in return.

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