My Brother Drove His Wife to Despair – Then the Unthinkable Happened

My brother drove his wife to despairand then the unthinkable happened.
My brother had always been my role model.
Since childhood I looked up to my older sibling, Pierre. He was a mentor, a protector, and the person I wanted to emulate.
When I got married, he told me:
Remember one thing, little brother. Never tell your wife how much money you have. If you let her know, shell drain your pockets. Keep her on a leash; dont let her spend!
At the time it sounded excessive.
But Pierre was five years older, already married, and I assumed he knew what he was talking about.
Fortunately, my wife Claire wasnt that kind of person.
She didnt chase brands, didnt demand pricey gifts, and didnt dream of a luxurious life.
Over the years, however, our paths diverged from Pierres. Our wives didnt get along, and Pierre was consumed by his business. I played in an orchestra; he owned farms and land. Whenever I saw him, I expected a lecture, and he always found a reason to reprimand me.
Money over family
He kept repeating, Youre irresponsible! How can you live paycheck to paycheck? Why let your wife waste money on trivial things? I never argued, but his words hurt. After those talks I tried to save, only to forget quickly and slip back into old habits.
Pierre had a daughter, Amélie, whom he kept practically captiveno pocket money, no trendy clothes, no makeup. She grew up under strict rules. Occasionally she visited us, and Claire and I would secretly slip her a bit of cash. At sixteen, Amélie fled home just to escape her fathers control. Pierre even claimed it was welldeserved, blaming her for not being protected. The worst, I later saw.
A vacation turned into torment
Two years ago we decided to take a family trip to the sea, and I witnessed everything. My brother harassed his wife over every cent:
Another coffee? Cant you have it at home?
A pizza? Youre crazy, its too expensive!
What ice cream for the kids? Let them drink water!
He monitored every expense, every euro, every receipt. Walking with him on the promenade was impossible. My children, like any others, wanted cotton candy, balloons, souvenirs Yet Pierre merely frowned and muttered, Youll ruin your parents, understand? despite having far more money than I didhe was just afraid to spend it.
Claire finally said, Lets stay here a few more days, without them. I agreed, and that night Pierre left with his wife, hurrying to a farmequipment auction. The next morning I received a call: they had been in an accident. He had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel. I lost my brother.
Since then I have become a different man. I no longer save for old age, I no longer fret over the price of a cup of coffee. I buy gifts for my children, treat my wife to nice things, and get good suits for myself. Yes, money is necessary, but whats the point of hoarding it without living?
Clinging to wealth as if we could take it to the grave is absurd. The real priority is not losing the people we love, because they are irreplaceable. Money matters little in comparison.