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512words
“Look,Sarah,you’re being way too petty.It’s just$50,000.How about I say I borrowed it from you?Are you satisfied now?’ Emma said, sounding indifferent.
“Fine,”I replied.“This time it’s$50,000 for the car,$200,000 for her wedding,$300,000 for her house—that’s$550,000 already.”
“Then there was the time you wanted a laptop,which cost $8,800 and was paid for by your brother.”
“And before that,you wanted shoes that cost $1,800.I remember you sent him the link to buy them.”
“Liam’s tutoring and piano lessons cost $300 per session,and you booked 20 sessions at once,$5,888.”
“And then…”
“Enough!”my mother-in-law interrupted.“Sarah,you remember every single cent.You should become an accountant!”
“Ever since Ethan married you,he’s been a stay-at-home dad,working his butt off for you.”
“Go ask around—nannies cost$10,000-$18,000 a month.Have you ever paid Ethan a penny these years?”
I laughed.So I married a nanny,not a husband?
And I’m supposed to pay him a salary?
Also,wasn’t it Ethan’s choice to be a stay-at-home dad?
Our arguing must have been too loud because it woke Tommy.
He rubbed his eyes,walked out of his room,and stood there, stunned, when he saw everyone.
“Mommy,”he called softly,running to me.
My mother-in-law rolled her eyes at Tommy.“What bad manners.All these people here,and you only see your mom?”
“Did your mom badmouth your dad last night,so now you won’t even say hello to us?”
Tommy quickly defended me.“No way!”
“Hey,you little brat,talking back like that?So ill-mannered!”
Even Ethan chimed in,“Tommy,you can’t talk to Grandma like that.She’s an elder.Show respect,got it?”
Respect?That depends on who they are.
Tommy’s never been to his grandma’s house.
During holidays,when Ethan visits his mom,he never takes me or Tommy.
He says taking Tommy there would“disrupt Liam’s fortune.”
Some nonsense he heard somewhere,but he believes it completely.
I used to argue with him about it,but after a while,I gave up arguing.
So every year,when Ethan goes to his mom’s,I take Tommy to my parents’place.
“Alright,Sarah,just apologize to my brother,and we’ll consider it settled,”Emma said.
“Couples fight,but you don’t hold grudges.We’re family—don’t worry about the money.You can always earn more,but family ties are irreplaceable.”
It's funny how she only calls Ethan 'brother' when she needs something. Otherwise, she uses his first name.
And the whole family sees nothing wrong with that.
“I quit my job,so the money’s gone for good,”I said.
“What?You quit?”Emma jumped up from the couch.
“Bro,why didn’t you tell me she quit?What about the$200,000 you promised for my startup?”
Before she could finish,her husband gave her thigh a hard pinch.
Emma realized she’d slipped and glanced awkwardly at Ethan.
Well,well,well.
When I wanted to start a business,Ethan said it was too risky,that we’d lose everything,that we needed to be practical,that he didn’t want to live in fear.
But when his sister wanted to start a business,he secretly took my money to fund her.
I was furious.
“Ethan,I don’t want to waste words.”
“If you’re smart,pick a day,and we’ll go to the courthouse to get the divorce papers signed.Then you can help your sister all you want,and no one will stop you.”
