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James,for my"convenience,"took the study.
His only contribution during pregnancy.
Or he just didn't want our son's cries waking him at night.
Whenever my mother cooked,she made James's share too,warmly serving him.
I grumbled,"Mom,I told James we're each on our own now.You don't need to cook for him."
She smiled."We're family.Don't be silly."
James nodded,gulping down the food. He would even act judge sometime, saying the dishes were too salty or too bland.
I held my tongue.
Privately,my mother whispered,"These are small things.Let him take advantage.It'll catch up to him."
I nodded.
With her care,I recovered quickly and returned to work soon,working harder than ever.
Unburdened by chores,I got promoted.
James,predictably,wouldn't watch our son.
His petty nature meant I'd never trust him with childcare.
I hired an expensive nanny,with my parents helping out occasionally.
Everything improved,except for one person's discontent.
Learning the cost of hiring one nanny,James griped,"Such a waste.Why so fragile?If you didn't bury yourself in work,you'd have time for the kid."
I shot him a look."What,no more splitting childcare?Expecting me to handle it all?"
Realizing his slip,he stammered,"I didn't say I won't help.I'm just busy working."
His hypocrisy made me laugh.I shook my head and drove to work.
I needed the independence so that one day I could raise my son alone.
Until then,I had sent all my money to my parents and had a friend tallying our joint assets,preparing for a potential split.
But before I could bring up the matter of divorce,disaster struck first.
James's mother had a stroke,needing urgent surgery.
Too proud to ask me,he grabbed his wage card,expecting his mother's savings to cover it.
But he found not a penny left inside.
Thinking she'd been scammed,he checked the records.
Every transfer went to his sister.
He confronted his father,who,under pressure,admitted,"Your sister's had a tough life since after she got married.Helping her is only normal."
"You've always been independent,but she's not.We spoiled her.She can't manage alone.We're family,aren't we?"
