Looking at the chaotic scene before me, the fatigue and irritation accumulated from working overtime instantly washed over me.
I rubbed my temples, my last bit of patience gone. I pulled out my phone and called the driver, Bentley. “Bentley, come home and take my mother-in-law back to her hometown.”
The crying stopped abruptly. Rebecca looked at me in disbelief. “Hannah? Are you kicking me out?”
I sighed, feeling somewhat helpless and replied, “Didn’t you say you were going back home? It’s late and it’s unsafe to take a taxi. I’ll have the driver take you.”
She froze in her tracks and stared at me for a long moment, making sure I wasn’t joking. Her expression shifted from shock to shame and indignation. She suddenly grabbed her suitcase and stormed out.
“Okay! I’m leaving! Let’s see what you’ll say when Sebastian gets back!”
***
Two days later, Sebastian returned from his business trip. As soon as he entered the house, before he’d even put down his luggage, his phone rang.
From a distance, I could hear Rebecca’s wailing, accusations on the other end. “Sebastian, wahhh, help me!”
Sebastian listened for a long time with furrowed brows, his expression growing increasingly grim. Finally, he reluctantly hung up.
Feeling a little guilty, my mom poked her head out of the kitchen and asked tentatively, “Sebastian, is your mom okay? What did she say?”
Sebastian sighed and replied, “Mom said we should treat everyone equally. Since we bought Mother-in-law a car worth over 140,000 dollars, we should buy her something decent. She doesn’t ask for much; a large apartment in my hometown for around 280,000 dollars will do. She said she’s worked hard all her life and deserves to enjoy life. If we don’t agree, she won’t come back.”
My mother immediately exploded and complained, “Is she crazy? A 280,000-dollar apartment? Why doesn’t she just let it go?! Forget about coming back; the family will survive without her.”
I quickly winked at my mom, urging her to be quiet. However, my mom, already furious, didn’t want to cooperate and added, “Sebastian, Hannah, you need to think this through carefully. No one’s money comes out of nowhere. If you’re spending 280,000 dollars on a house every time you have an argument, she might as well ask for a villa next time.”