The Price of Familial Betrayal

ldhood home opened, and

ara

s flat, hold

e you doi

the familiar cracked c

ng," I said, my tone even.

from the doorway,

' t expect

n see

ing on my business attire. It was a look I k

d, finally stepping aside with a he

ing had changed. The same faded floral sofa sat against the wall, the same dark scratches

the couch, his eyes glued to the

Mike,"

a sound that was both a

d the door behind me, the sou

car," she started, not eve

eason for any inter

ped him buy last year?" I asked

ings break. You have a good job in the city. You make

om the screen, his expressi

at new car you' re driv

y chip bag resting on his stomach. He was two years olde

t I have, Mike,"

, walking past me

nonsense. You' re famil

eels clicking on the

gs on the counter. I had bought high-quality steaks, fresh

o the bags, her lips

ith suspicion. "You think you can buy our affecti

in our dynamic, that I almost laughed. For them, every

d, my patience starting to fray

of asparagus away as if it were poison. "You come here, acting all high an

words was a familia

id, my voice rising slightly.

y phone fr

, the one he racked up buying video games. For the last five years, I' ve been sending money every single month to help with your mo

ce to my brother, who was now sitting

my voice cold and clear. "I' m cleaning

ay. My father, Mr. Miller, appeared in the

this shouting?

ely pointed a trem

respecting us! She' s thr

counter, grabbed one of the grocery bags, and threw it on t

cing. "After everything we' ve done for you, you come i

, the words tasting like ash. "You mean raisi

loser, his face

family. He carries the Miller name. One day, this house, th

uely around the

meone else' s name. Your only duty is to support your fam

fe. But hearing them said so plainly, with such cold conviction, so

ok in my eyes

like that. We are your pare