Chapter 1

I had a rotten family. My parents favored boys over girls, and my younger brother was a total deadbeat.

I had fought so hard to escape them, but my husband, Austin, always lectured me: "You have to learn to make peace with your childhood trauma. After all, blood is thicker than water."

He generously threw our hard-earned money into my family’s bottomless pit, all to paint himself as a saintly savior.

Yet, when it came to his own family—where his parents had a toxic marriage and his sister and sister-in-law hated each other’s guts—he never lifted a finger.

I finally realized that his so-called "reconciliation" was built entirely on sacrificing me.

So, I locked his constantly warring parents in a room together and told them they couldn't leave until they resolved their issues.

I forced his sister and his brother's wife, who despised each other, to become roommates so they could "bond."

When Austin’s family was turned absolutely upside down, I smiled and told him:

"Honey, I’m just helping you heal your relationship with your family."

The phone call was from my mother, Eleanor. It started with her usual fake-sweet greeting.

"Chloe, sweetie, how’s work going lately?"

I was grading lesson plans and replied half-heartedly, "It’s fine, Mom. Do you need something?"

"Your brother Tyler has a new girlfriend, and he’s bringing her over.”

“We need to spruce up the house and buy some decent furniture. And since it's her first time visiting, you, as his older sister, have to give her a generous welcome check, right?"

My hand clenched around my pen.

Tyler was twenty-five. He had gone through a dozen jobs, none of them lasting more than three months.

All he knew was how to leach off the family.

Just last month, he begged for $5,000 under the guise of "starting a business."

I took a deep breath. "Mom, I just gave you money last month—"

"Oh, that was for his business! This is his future marriage we’re talking about. Is it the same?" My mother’s voice instantly turned shrill.

"Do you want your brother to end up alone forever? You married well, Chloe. You’re a school teacher in the city now. Don't forget where you came from!"

It was always the same guilt trip.

Before I could fire back, Austin took the phone from my hand. His voice was so sweet it could give you cavities.

"Eleanor, don't worry. Chloe didn't mean it that way. We’re definitely supporting Tyler’s big step. How about this? I’ll wire you $8,000 right now. Use it for the furniture and the welcome gift. If it’s not enough, just let us know."

On the other end of the line, Eleanor immediately burst into delighted laughter, showering him with praise.

"Oh, Austin! You’re the most sensible son-in-law in the world! Chloe marrying you is the best thing that ever happened to her!"

After hanging up, Austin looked at me tenderly and took my hands in his.

"Chloe, don’t overthink it. We’re family. Keeping the peace is what matters. Tyler is settling down now. That’s a good thing. As his older sister and brother-in-law, we should help when we can."

I looked at him, feeling as if a lump of cold dough was stuck in my throat.

Our total savings was barely $30,000. He had just thrown away more than a quarter of it.

That money was saved through my sweat and tears.

"Austin, he’s my brother, not yours. He is a black hole. You can’t fill it," I said, my voice dry.

Austin’s brows furrowed slightly. He let go of my hands and adopted his signature preaching tone.

As a college counselor, gaslighting was practically his professional expertise.

"Chloe, how can you think like that? We can’t choose the family we’re born into, but we can choose to dissolve conflict with love.

Running away doesn't solve anything. You need to learn to make peace—with your parents, with Tyler, and with yourself."

He stood on his moral high ground, talking smoothly.

"Look, I handled this, and your mom is so happy. Money can always be remade, but once family bonds are broken, they’re hard to mend. I’m doing this for you, Chloe, not just for Tyler."

He painted himself as a selfless saint, while I was cast as the petty, cold-hearted sister.

I looked at him, suddenly finding it hilarious.

"Make peace? How easy for you to say."