Chapter 10

<p>Just then, the nursery door was pushed open with a bang. James Carter, the golden child who had stayed above it all until now, finally showed himself.</p><p>He pulled off his headphones and frowned, his face full of irritation at being disturbed. "What's all the noise? How's anyone supposed to study like this?"</p><p>His gaze swept across the living room, taking in the tense standoff between us, and his frown deepened. "Sarah, what's your problem?"</p><p>"My mom gets on your case a little, and you sell the house?</p><p>"I'm about to take the SAT. Aren't you doing this on purpose to mess with me?"</p><p>His tone was utterly self-righteous, as if selling my own house were some unforgivable crime, and as if disrupting his exam prep meant I deserved to be crucified.</p><p>I looked at him and suddenly laughed, so hard my eyes almost watered. This was the so-called family I had once tried to fit into. Selfish to the core. Always thinking only of themselves.</p><p>I stopped laughing and looked at James. "That's right. I did it on purpose. Don't you like peace and quiet? Very soon, this place will be real quiet, because every last one of you is getting the hell out."</p><p>That completely set off the three Carters. James's face turned dark red in an instant. "You... you're impossible!" For a high school senior, his vocabulary for a fight was clearly pretty limited.</p><p>Mary, on the other hand, went right back into full shrew mode. "This is outrageous. Absolutely outrageous. David, look at the so-called wonderful wife you married. This is how she treats your brother. She can't stand seeing this family happy."</p><p>As she spoke, her eyes darted, and I could practically see a scheme forming. She dropped to the floor with a thud and started wailing, slapping her thigh. "Why is my life so miserable? "</p><p>"I worked so hard to raise my son, and he brought home an ungrateful wretch for a wife.</p><p>"Now we don't even have a place to live. She's driving us out into the street. I can't live like this. I can't."</p><p>As she wailed, she kept darting sidelong looks at me. This was her usual routine. First came the tears, then the tantrum, then threats to end it all.</p><p>In the past, whenever she did this, David would immediately soften and start trying to persuade me to compromise.</p><p>But today, that trick didn't work. I watched her performance coldly and didn't budge.</p><p>David really did panic. He hurried over, flustered, trying to help Mary up. "Mom, get up. We can talk this through. Stop crying. What if the neighbors hear?"</p><p>Mary shoved him away. "Good. I want the neighbors to hear. Let everyone judge for themselves. Let them all see how this vicious woman treats her mother-in-law." She started wailing even louder.</p><p>I pulled out my phone, aimed it at her, and hit record. "Mary, please, keep going. Cry louder. Try to look a little more devastated.</p><p>"I'll post it online and let everyone see what incredible acting you've got. Who knows, maybe you'll even win an award."</p><p>The moment I did that, Mary's wails cut off abruptly. Like a duck with its neck squeezed, she stared dumbfounded at the phone in my hand. "You... what are you doing?"</p><p>"Recording." I gave my phone a little shake and smiled lightly. "Saving this rare performance for the memories."</p><p>Mary's face twisted between fury and panic as she scrambled up from the floor. "Delete it. Delete it right now!" She lunged for my phone.</p><p>I stepped back and held it high.</p>