Chapter 1

My sister-in-law made three thousand a month, but she was famous for her generosity. She was always treating people to dinner, two or three times a week.

Every time, she brought them to my restaurant. And she never paid.

In three months, she'd run up a hundred and eighty thousand dollars.

The place was bleeding money. I couldn't hold it in anymore, so I mentioned it to her, just once, and asked her to settle the bill.

Instead, in front of everyone in the restaurant, she slapped me across the face. Five times.

"I only brought people here to eat because of your brother, to help your business. You could at least be grateful. Instead you've got the nerve to ask me for money?"

My brother lowered his head and pretended not to see.

My mother opened her mouth, but said nothing.

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and turned to leave.

Two days later, on her birthday, she brought in over a hundred relatives and friends and booked out the whole restaurant. Then she gave me her order:

"Althea Simmons, I've booked the place for my birthday. Every single table gets your most expensive liquor and your best dishes!"

I glanced at the ownership transfer papers I'd just signed, and gave a faint smile.

"Sure."

1

When Bernice Fox's five slaps landed on my face,

the noisy restaurant went silent in an instant.

Every eye in the room swung toward me.

Only my brother quietly lowered his head, pretending he hadn't seen.

My mother opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, then only sighed and said nothing.

I looked up, at Bernice standing there so pleased with herself, then at my brother and my mother, both silent.

I didn't shout. I didn't make a scene. I just wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and turned and walked out of the restaurant.

Behind me, Bernice was still cursing.

"Little brat, no respect. Trying to collect a bill from your own sister-in-law. You come asking me for money again, and I'll hit you again!"

I didn't look back.

Outside, the cold wind hit my face, and the sting in my cheek grew sharper.

But inside I felt calmer than I ever had.

I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and made a call.

"Hi. I want to sell my restaurant."

"I don't care how low the price is. I only have one condition."

When I was done on the phone, I didn't go back to the restaurant.

I went straight home.

The moment I reached the door, I heard Bernice complaining inside.

"Mom, Jim Simmons, you two really need to get Althea under control."

"I'm her sister-in-law, for God's sake. How could she stand there in public and demand money from me over one meal?"

"If the relatives ever hear about this, they'll laugh us into the ground."

My brother sounded uncomfortable.

"The restaurant is hers, though. She paid for it herself. It's hard for me to say too much."

Bernice's voice shot up at once.

"So what if she paid for it herself?"

"She's your sister. Isn't it only natural for a sister to slave away for her brother? She was born to smooth the road for this family. Whatever's hers should be ours. So I take a little as her sister-in-law. What's wrong with that?"

"And me bringing people to her restaurant is doing her a favor, boosting her business. If she doesn't even get that, what business does she have running a restaurant?"

My mother rushed to smooth it over.

"That's just how Althea is. She's not big-hearted and generous like you, Bernice. There's no need to lower yourself to her level."

Bernice let out a cold snort.

"Well, I'm not going to spoil her!"

"Today you two have to make it crystal clear to her. If she still wants to live in this house, from now on she keeps her head down and behaves, and she doesn't pull any more of this clueless nonsense."

My mother said, all placating,

"Fine. When Althea's back, I'll have her apologize to you."

The next second, I pushed the door open and walked in.

All three of them turned to look at me.

My mother waved me over and got straight to the point.

"Althea, good, you're just in time."

"You were in the wrong today. Family shouldn't quibble over a little food money. Go on and give your sister-in-law a proper apology."

Bernice leaned back against the couch with her arms crossed, smirking, waiting for me to bow my head.

I ignored her, walked straight into my bedroom, pulled open the closet, and started packing my clothes.

My brother followed me in, shut the door behind him, and lowered his voice.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I folded my coat and tucked it into the suitcase, calm.

"Packing. I'm moving out."

His face darkened, and he reached out to press down on my suitcase.

"Althea, can you not be so difficult?"

"It's just an apology. What's the harm in swallowing your pride for once?"

"Bernice was wrong to hit you, sure, but you shouldn't have humiliated her in front of everyone either."

"She's my wife. You can't expect me to get into a fight with her over you."

"Can't you show a little sense and drop that petty, penny-pinching habit of yours?"

My hands paused for just a moment.

Then I looked up at him and said quietly,

"Don't worry. I won't do it again."

With that I folded the last piece of clothing, laid it in the suitcase, zipped it up, and walked out of the bedroom without looking back.

Behind me, my brother started to come after me, but Bernice stopped him.

"Let her go."

"If she's got the guts to walk out, she'd better not come back."

My mother chimed in, just as displeased.

"Jim, let her go. She's just spoiled. A couple of days out on her own to clear her head and she'll realize she was wrong."

After I left home, I checked into a hotel near the restaurant.

I'd barely settled in when my phone rang.

A message.

And when I finished reading it, I finally smiled, satisfied.