Chapter 3

"I'm so tired I can't even lift my hands," I said.

Sean's face turned a little sour as he listened.

But he stubbornly argued, "Hey, your sister-in-law is pregnant, not feeling well. She can't do any chores."

"Pregnant?" I was caught off guard. "She's pregnant?"

I stared at Sean, still processing. "She's pregnant?"

Sean nodded. "Yeah, just found out. She's two months in."

Suddenly, it clicked for me.

"So you brought me here because you want me to stick around until the baby's born?" I asked.

"Just for a while, it won't be long," Sean said.

"How long?" I pressed.

"Depends," Sean replied.

Depends.

His answer hit me hard. I felt completely cold inside.

"Sean, if helping out at home is something I'm supposed to do, shouldn't you also treat me with a little kindness?" I said.

I started to leave, dragging my suitcase behind me.

"But you can't even show me the most basic respect," I added.

Sean was at a loss for words, frozen in place.

As I walked out of the room, I saw my sister-in-law still lounging on the couch.

She had a face mask on and was scrolling through her phone, watching videos.

When she saw me dragging my suitcase out, she didn't even bother to look up.

"Young people are such snowflakes," she said, speaking into her phone.

It seemed like she was video chatting with someone.

"Can't take a little criticism. Girls these days are so spoiled," Julie's sister-in-law said into her phone.

I could hear someone on the other end chiming in.

"Yeah, totally. Young people these days..."

I stood at the doorway and looked back.

This home, the living room was spacious and bright, tastefully decorated.

But after spending just one day here, all I felt was the chill in the air.

"Julie!" Sean ran after me.

"Are you really leaving?" he asked, sounding anxious.

"Who's going to look after Tommy tomorrow? Your sister-in-law and I are both busy," he added.

I looked at him and let out a bitter laugh.

"So, do you want me to stay because you're worried about me, or just because you need someone to watch Tommy tomorrow?" I asked.

Sean opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

I hauled my suitcase into the elevator.

Right as the elevator doors closed, I saw Sean standing at the doorway, looking miserable.

But I had zero regrets.

At nine o'clock that night, I was sitting on the high-speed train, heading home.

The lights outside flashed by in a blur as I leaned back in my seat, finally feeling a wave of relief wash over me.

My phone buzzed.

It was a message from Sean.

"You just walked out like that? Who's going to take care of Tommy tomorrow? Do you have any idea how busy Claire and I are?"

I stared at the message, but didn't bother to reply.

Another message came in.

"Julie, stop acting up and just come back already. Alright, I won't even make you pay for meals, happy now?"

I turned off my phone screen.

It wasn't about whether it was okay or not.

The real problem was, he never thought he was in the wrong.

He figured as long as he didn't charge me for food, I'd just come back and keep playing the role of his unpaid nanny.

But he didn't realize the damage was already done.

Some things, once said, can never be taken back.

The bullet train rolled into the station at 1 a.m.

I lugged my suitcase out onto the platform and caught a cab home.

As I passed through downtown, I caught sight of the office building where I was supposed to start my new job.

The lights were still on, people were clearly working late.

I couldn't help but wonder, 'If I hadn't turned down that offer, would I be working there right now?'

Would I have already started on a project?

Would I have already gotten to know some new coworkers?

But now, it was too late for regrets.

By the time I got home, my parents were already asleep.

I quietly opened the door and slipped into my room.

Lying in my familiar bed, I stared up at the ceiling.

All the scenes from today kept replaying in my mind.

Sean said, "If you live here, you need to pay $3000 a month for meals."

Claire said, "That's the rule, even between siblings, everything should be settled clearly."

Then Sean pressed, "So, who's going to take care of Tommy tomorrow?"

Suddenly, I couldn't help but find it all absurd.

From beginning to end, all they cared about was who'd do the chores.

My feelings, everything I'd done, the job I gave up for them,

To them, none of that ever mattered.

My phone started ringing again.

This time, Sean was calling.

I stared at his name lighting up on the screen, then finally pressed decline.

After that, I powered off my phone.

I just needed to clear my head.

But even with my eyes closed, sleep just wouldn't come.

My mind was flooded with scenes from the day.

At six in the morning, Tommy's cries.

At ten, I remembered the swings in the park.

At three, my back was killing me from all the mopping.

At seven in the evening, that demand for $3000 a month just for meals.

I gave up a $270,000 salary, so what did I get for it?

All I got was, "You're living in my place, eating my food, using my stuff."

And another, "Isn't helping out at home just what you're supposed to do?"

And Julie, lounging with her face mask on, saying, "Young people are such snowflakes."

Was it worth it?

I asked myself.

Of course not. Why did I agree to help him then?

Because he was my brother.

Because ever since I was a kid, my parents always told me to put him first, to help him out.

Because I thought being family meant you'd always have each other's back, no matter what.

But I was wrong.

Some people just take your kindness for granted.

They act like everything you do for them is nothing more than your obligation.

But the moment you ask for a shred of respect, they accuse you of being overly sensitive.

Watching the sky outside turn from dark to pale, I finally decided what I needed to do.

The next morning, at eight, my mom's call jolted me awake.

I picked up, still half-asleep.

"Julie, what's going on with you?" my mom asked.