I Had To Pay The Balance

Marlene saw me quietly sneer and got even more cocky.

“Back when we went to Sinapor, you put us up in ocean-view rooms and treated us to fancy seafood feasts. When we went to Gapan, we soaked in hot springs and went on shopping sprees.

“I always wondered how Mom’s tiny pension could cover all that cost. You’ve been draining her savings this whole time, haven’t you? Whatever you said it cost, Mom just paid up. How could you be so greedy?

“Did Mom give you too much money this time? Did your greed get the better of you? Did you pocket the whole thing?”

Shaun, who had been standing by and watching the show, could no longer hold back.

Instead of enjoying the free Eropean trip he had been looking forward to, he had to face chicken waste and mud all over the ground.

His disappointment made him vent all his anger on me.

“Noelle, this is wrong!”

He clasped his hands behind his back and put on the air of an elder lecturing a young person.

“Mabel trusted you when she handed you that money. How could you abuse that trust to line your own pocket? If this gets out, where does that leave the Grath family’s reputation?”

Faced with the barrage of accusations, I did not rush to defend myself. Instead, I turned and looked at my husband, Camden Grath, who had been silent the whole time.

Whenever Mabel and Marlene attacked me, he always stayed silent.

“Cam, do you also think I pocketed Mom’s money?”

Camden stiffened when I called him out.

He looked up, then quickly looked away. He put on a helpless expression.

“Noelle, just drop it already.”

He sighed. His tone was full of reproach.

“Mom’s getting old, and she’s not in great health. How could you upset her like this? Even if… even if the money she gave you wasn’t enough, you still shouldn’t have handled things this way.

“It’s not like we’re strapped for cash. Aren’t you usually on top of things? Why do you have to make such a big, ugly scene this time?”

I figured this would happen. But it still hurt to hear him say it out loud.

“Do you think I’m a fool? Am I supposed to use my own money to fill the bottomless pit of your mom and your sister’s whims? On top of that, I get blamed for lining my pocket!”

Camden waved his hand impatiently.

“We’re a family. You make more money. What does it matter if you have to chip in a little extra? All those other trips we took, I never heard you complain about money. Why are you suddenly making such a big deal over $400 this time?

“Look how upset you’ve made Mom! Apologize to her right now. Then, go book a decent hotel. Don’t let Shaun and Karen see this train wreck.”

His words killed off whatever feelings I had left for him.

Previously, when I covered the costs, he played dumb.

He enjoyed the illusion of a harmonious family and the reputation of being a devoted son.

Since I stopped covering the costs, he blamed me for being unreasonable.

He had taken me and my contribution for granted.

Meanwhile, his complaint against me was that I was being petty.

When Mabel saw that Camden was on her side, she became bolder.

She sobbed and said, “Cam, look at Noelle. She doesn’t even respect you anymore! What did I do to deserve a spendthrift daughter-in-law in this family?”

Marlene chimed in, “Cam, you can’t protect her this time! You have to make her give back all the money she pocketed!”

Seeing the whole family putting up a show, I laughed.

“Fine! Since you’re so determined to drag this out…”

I pulled out the document folder from my bag and held it out.

“Then, let’s hash it out properly!”