My 68-year-old mother is now homeless. She can no longer afford her rent and came to me, asking if she could stay at my place.

She has no savings left because she spent all her retirement money on my younger sister and her four children.

Six months ago, my sister—a single mom—was diagnosed with a serious chronic illness. She lost her job soon after, and my mother stepped in to cover her treatments and all the kids’ expenses.

I, on the other hand, have a stable job as an architect. I’m independent and have never relied on my parents for financial support. So when my mother showed up at my door, I told her, “Don’t expect my help! I never got a dime from you!”

She simply smiled and left.

The next day, while I was at work, my mother called and said I had one week to repay all the money she had spent on my college education. I assumed she was just upset and didn’t take her seriously.

But when I came home later, I was stunned to find her waiting outside my house, looking furious. She shouted, “You said I never helped you, but I paid for your education and gave you the life you have today! I need money now, and if you don’t pay me back, you can forget you have a mother!”

I was speechless.

Yes, my parents did pay for my education—but isn’t that what parents are supposed to do? Since graduating, I’ve supported myself completely, while my sister used up all of my mom’s retirement savings.

So, is it really fair for me to pay my mother back?