When Family Becomes The Enemy

rry better than her family,

le, his voice calm and steady, as if he were discussing the weather.

ho raised her. But a girl who marries a simple man, a man who needs her, she'll a

late. I had heard this lecture a hundred times. It started when I was in

y someone I have to support? I worked hard to get a good ed

ed my foot under the table, her usual signal for me to drop

able. He was busy texting on his phone, barely paying atte

I shot back, my voice rising.

eyes were cold. "We provide for you, we give you a home. Your only jo

self-serving, that I couldn't even find a place to start. So I did what I always did, I retreated into myself, finished my meal in silence, an

n jumped up to let her in, a wide, proud smile on his face. Jessica was beautiful, dressed in e

lovely to meet you. Kevin has told me so much about you." Sh

hungry? We have plenty of food." My mother gushed over the gift, her earlier weariness gone. They treated her like royalty. They asked about

ved with every day. Kevin was encouraged to date up, to find a partner who could e

tensed up. It was my boyfriend, Michael Chen. I had asked him to come over, hoping,

bouquet of flowers. He was a successful software engineer, smart,

ding me the flowers. "Am

on in," I said, tryi

on his face vanished. He looked Michael up and down, his gaze lingering on Mich

r. Miller asked,

my heart starting to pound. "Michael, these are my

hand. "It's a pleas

nd. He just stared at Michael. "What

company downtown," Michael answer

y," Mr. Miller stated.

chael said, confused

cked everyone in the room, even Kevin. "I told you, Sarah. I

k at Michael. "Get

ompletely stunned. Jessica looked horrified, her teacup froze

g?" I cried out, steppi

ting a finger at the door. "We don't want his

't used to this kind of irrational hostility. He saw the tears welling up

quietly. He turned and walked o

beautiful flowers he had brought me were still in my hands. The

a whisper. "Mr. Miller... why would you

if nothing had happened. "He's not the right man fo

ful boyfriend was thrown out like trash. It wasn't about the money. It was about control. My success, and by extension