The Night I Flipped the Dinner Table and Shattered My Family

The note read: “Part-time income.”

And the very next day, without exception, there was another transfer out—almost the same amount.

Recipient: Sarah Lee.

Note: Living expenses for Henry.

Line after line, page after page.

The pattern was painfully obvious, stretching across three full years.

“I started working part-time in my freshman year. It’s been three years.”

I looked at the cold rows of records on the screen.

“Almost every paycheck I earned was transferred to Mom the very next day to cover Henry’s living expenses. I kept only a pitiful amount for myself.”

My father suddenly whipped his head around and stared at my mother, his eyes blazing with anger and disbelief I had never seen before.

“Sarah! Didn’t you say that money came from your parents? That they were secretly helping support Henry?”

My mother’s body trembled violently. She was completely flustered now, unable to form even a single word of defense.

“But… Emily…”

My uncle finally spoke, as if trying to ease the tension, his tone uncertain.

“Your mother… she hasn’t done nothing for you either. Last year on your birthday, didn’t she host that big dinner at the Grand Harbor Restaurant? Three tables. We all remember it was quite the celebration. That can’t have been fake too, right?”

Carol quickly nodded. “Exactly! The cake alone had three layers!”

I smiled, exited the banking app, and opened another folder.

Three images appeared on the television screen one after another.

The first was a screenshot of an online loan contract.

Borrower: Emily Carter. The loan date was one week before my birthday last year. Amount: $4,600.

The second was the restaurant bill from Grand Harbor Restaurant, dated on my birthday.

Total amount: $4,600.

The third was a payment record showing that the bill had been paid through the loan app on my phone.

“See that?” I pointed at the screen. “My birthday party was paid for with a loan taken out in my own name, just so they could put on a show.”

The relatives erupted into shocked murmurs, disbelief written all over their faces.

My cousin-in-law, Grace, covered her mouth and asked hesitantly, “Then… what about the cash gifts we gave you that day? Altogether it was quite a lot—over two thousand dollars, wasn’t it?”

“Three thousand two hundred and eighty.”

I recited the number precisely.

“After the banquet, my mother said, ‘Let Mom hold on to the money for you first. I’ll save it as part of your dowry later.’”

My gaze shifted to my parents.

“That money eventually turned into the expensive set of cosmetics on Mom’s vanity and the new watch on Dad’s wrist.”

Everyone’s angry eyes fell on them.

My father’s expression had grown so ugly it was beyond description.

My mother finally broke down completely.

She collapsed onto the floor, her hair disheveled, wailing loudly without the slightest concern for how she looked.

“I did it all for this family! Was it wrong for me to try to save money? Are you trying to drive me to my death?”

I walked over to her and slowly crouched down.

“Mom, do you know why I dared to flip the table today?” I said softly.

She lifted her head in confusion, her tear-filled eyes staring at me.

From the pocket of my pants, I slowly pulled out a folded sheet of paper.

Under the watchful gaze of everyone in the room, I carefully unfolded it.

When the words on the paper were fully revealed, Linda, who was standing closest to me, sucked in a sharp breath and quickly covered her mouth.