After Raising an Ungrateful Son, I Gave Everything to My DaughterChapter 1
The day my son brought his girlfriend home, I turned down a hundred-million-dollar partnership deal.
I cooked dinner myself to welcome them and even prepared a full set of gold jewelry as a gift for the girl. But the moment she sat down, she turned to my daughter—still in college—and started taking shots.
"Mrs. Sullivan, I heard you spend two million a year on your daughter. Piano, horseback riding, fencing, skiing... and for what? She'll just end up benefiting some other family's son."
"It's a losing investment, if you ask me. You'd be better off saving that money and buying a few properties for your soon-to-be grandson."
When I didn't respond, she went straight for the jugular.
"I'm carrying the Sullivan family's only male heir in three generations. If you want me to marry into this family, you'd better hand over half the fortune as a wedding fund."
My son, James Sullivan, didn't try to rein her in. Instead, he backed her up with a threat.
"Mom, since you clearly can't see reason, Meryl and I will move out after the wedding. And you can forget about ever seeing your grandchild."
My chopsticks paused for two seconds. I looked up and spoke calmly.
"No need to wait until after the wedding. You can both get out. Now."
An ungrateful dog that bites the hand that feeds it doesn't deserve to be fed.
——
"The Sullivan family has a rule passed down through generations: daughters are to be raised with every advantage."
"Meryl, if that doesn't sit well with you, then cling to James for dear life. Wait for him to build something from nothing, and when he's made his own money, he can spend every last cent on you and your child."
I went back to placing food on my daughter's plate, unhurried and deliberate.
Meryl Donaldson's face turned a shade of green. She kept jabbing James in the ribs with her elbow.
"Say something! You're the one who promised I'd be running this household the second I walked through the door."
James stole a glance at me, then stammered out his words.
"Mom, I'm only thinking of what's best for you."
"Dad passed away young. You raised me and my sister all on your own while managing over a thousand employees. Twenty years of carrying everything on your shoulders. Don't you think it's time to rest?"