Chapter 4
“I…”
Dad opened his mouth.
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“You don’t have money?”
Grandma’s voice rose.
“But your wife can buy a three-thousand-dollar lobster?”
I stood in the kitchen doorway, fork still in hand, and couldn’t help speaking up.
“Dad didn’t pay for the lobster.”
“Nobody asked you!”
Grandma struck the coffee table with her cane.
My stepmother finally raised her head.
She glanced at the mark on the table and frowned slightly.
“Robert,” Grandma continued.
“You’re the oldest. You have responsibilities. Your brother’s struggling. If you won’t help him, who will?”
“But… I…”
Dad’s voice kept getting softer.
“And your sister.”
Grandma pointed at Aunt Diane.
“Her child is going abroad to study. Tuition is two hundred thousand a year. As an uncle, you should contribute.”
Aunt Diane nodded eagerly.
“And Chloe’s getting married. The groom’s family is putting up five hundred thousand for the couple. We need to give her six hundred thousand. You’ll cover that, too.”
Grandma counted on her fingers.
“One million, two hundred thousand, six hundred thousand. That’s one point eight million.”
“You forgot something, Grandma,” Chloe suddenly said.
“Dad needs a new car, too. Two hundred thousand.”
“Right, right. Another two hundred thousand. Two million.”
Aunt Linda’s eyes lit up.
I leaned against the kitchen doorway and nearly laughed.
Two million.
I’d wondered why every relative on Dad’s side had shown up together today, as if they’d planned it.
They were here for money.
Someone must have told them Dad had married a rich woman.
Rumors always got more ridiculous as they spread.
Yes, my stepmother was rich. But that was her money. It had nothing to do with Dad.
And here these people were, lining up for handouts.
“Robert, say something!”
Grandma struck the floor with her cane again.
Dad stood there, white-faced.
Then my stepmother moved.
She took a sip of tea and spoke at her leisure.
“Why is it so noisy?”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but the whole living room instantly fell silent.
Her eyes passed over Aunt Linda, Aunt Diane, and Chloe before settling on Grandma.
“Who is this old woman?”
Grandma’s face darkened.
“What… what did you say?”
“I asked who you are.”
My stepmother’s tone stayed mild.
“Is there some emergency that requires you to come into my home shouting? Is your house on fire?”
I nearly laughed.
“Robert!”
Grandma shook with anger as she pointed her cane at Dad.
“Did you hear that? Your wife called me an old woman! Do something!”
“This is your first time meeting your daughter-in-law, and you came empty-handed? That’s polite?”
I looked at Grandma.
“Is that how the Bennett family does things?”
Her face stiffened.
“I’m her elder!”
Her voice rose again.
“Since when does an elder have to bring a gift?”
“Since when do elders show up demanding money from the younger generation?”
I tilted my head, looking curious.
“You—”
“Enough.”
My stepmother interrupted, a trace of impatience in her voice.
“So after all that, you’re here for money.”
Grandma immediately recovered her confidence.
“What do you mean, here for money? Families help each other! I’m his mother. He’s supposed to support me! His brother and sister need help. He’s supposed to help them, too!”
My stepmother smiled.
Then she turned to Dad.
“Robert, why is your whole family like this?”
His face drained.
“They demand money so confidently. You’d think they were collecting a debt.”
She tapped the arm of the couch twice.
“Why don’t you cut them off?”
Grandma’s eyes widened.
“Cut ties with them, and I’ll give you five million.”