Walking Away From My Ungrateful Son

"Mom, you actually made Leo buy you a boba drink today? I mean, seriously, aren't you ashamed of yourself taking pocket money from your own grandson at your age? You're so greedy." It was evening. I had just set the food on the table and sat down to eat when my daughter-in-law, Chloe, started in with her passive-aggressive accusations. "No, that's not what happened. It was buy-one-get-one-free." "Oh, so that gives you an excuse to spend your grandson's allowance? The older you get, the more shameless you become." Chloe’s voice was shrill and grating, making my blood boil. I glanced at my son, Justin, who kept his head buried in his plate as if he were invisible. Seeing him like that broke my heart even more. "The cashier didn't have small change." I forced down my anger and gave a short explanation. "Whatever, whatever. We're both women here—who are you trying to kid? You're lucky I'm easygoing. Anyone else would've kicked you out already." Chloe rolled her eyes at me and went back to eating. I couldn't swallow this humiliation. I stood up and slammed my fork onto the table. "Since you think I'm so greedy, fine. Starting today, I'm done serving you." "Oh, who are you trying to scare? You only have one son. Where else could you possibly go without him?" Chloe sneered. Justin didn't even look up. He just mumbled coldly, "Mom, stop making a scene. I'm exhausted from working all day." Looking at the contempt in Chloe's eyes felt like needles stabbing into my chest. Back then, to help my son get married and buy a house, I sold my own home back in my hometown. The two of them had promised me so earnestly that they would take care of me in my old age. And like a fool, I actually believed their lies. "I'll pay you back for the drink. I don't want a single penny from you." With that, I transferred the money to Chloe via PayPal. She accepted it instantly. "Come on, Mom. We give you plenty of grocery money every month. Stop putting on an act for your son." My hands trembled with rage. "Two hundred dollars a month is plenty?" "Since we're on the subject, let me break it down for you. Groceries and meat cost nearly all of that, not to mention the utility bills." I held up my fingers, ready to count every penny to show her. But before I could get more than a few words out, she cut me off. "See? I told you your mom is obsessed with money. Who knows how many little secret ledgers she's keeping behind our backs?" Chloe shot a knowing smirk at my son. Justin finally looked up, his tone ice-cold. "Mom, can you stop being so petty? Who do you think is going to take care of you when you're older? Isn't it going to be me? You're this old and you still can't do the math?" I was spending my own money to support their little household, yet somehow it was all my fault. Looking at this son I had raised with my own two hands, he felt completely like a stranger. "Just eat, Mom," Justin said, shifting his eyes away awkwardly. There was no way I could finish that meal. I walked straight back into the tiny storage room that served as my bedroom. Lying on the squeaky metal cot, tossing and turning, I suddenly remembered an older woman I had met at the park while watching Leo. She had noticed how quick and capable I was with chores and asked if I wanted to try working as a live-in housekeeper. But back then, all I cared about was helping take care of my grandson, so I politely declined. I picked up my phone and texted her, asking if she could keep an eye out for any families looking for a live-in housekeeper. The pay didn't matter as long as there was a roof over my head. She agreed right away. "Mom! Remember to wash the dishes! And check Leo's online homework app!" Just as I sent the text, my son yelled from the hallway. When you're living under someone else's roof, you have to swallow your pride—even if it's your own son's house. I let out a heavy sigh, dragged myself out of bed, and headed to the kitchen. I cleaned the kitchen quickly, then went into my grandson's room to help him submit his school assignments. By the time I finished everything, it was almost eleven at night.The next morning, I woke up before dawn to head to the grocery store. When I returned to make breakfast, I saw Chloe standing in the kitchen. She had the refrigerator door open, meticulously counting the eggs and checking the measurement lines on the cooking oil bottle to see how much was left. As she counted, she noted everything down on her phone. She was treating me like a common thief. A surge of anger rushed through me. I yanked the kitchen door open. "Chloe, what are you doing? What, are you afraid I'm stealing your food?" Chloe jumped, a flicker of panic crossing her face. "Mom, I'm just looking out for our family. You were already spending Leo's money yesterday. Who knows if you're sneaking food behind our backs or taking things out of the house to sell?" I had lived here for seven or eight years. Just because I drank one buy-one-get-one-free boba yesterday, she was acting like this today. "If you're so worried, then I'll just leave." "Oh, please, Mom, stop playing the hard-to-get card. I invented that trick," Chloe said, screwing the lid back onto the oil bottle without taking my words seriously at all. Before I could speak again, Justin called Chloe to leave for work. They left, leaving only me and my sleeping grandson in the house. Helpless, I walked Leo to school as usual. To my shock, when I returned home, I ran into a crew outside the front door coming to install security cameras. I watched with a cold heart as they mounted cameras in every corner of the house. They even put three inside my cramped, tiny storage room. I desperately wanted to pack up and run, but when I checked my bank account, I realized I barely had enough money to afford a motel for a night or two. "Mom, my in-laws are coming over tonight. Buy plenty of fresh seafood and make a nice spread. They love seafood." In the afternoon, right after I picked up Leo, I got a text from my son. "I don't have enough money." All my retirement savings were in Justin's hands, and whatever personal savings I had left were nearly depleted from subsidizing this family every month. Since they insisted on calling me greedy, I might as well act the part. "Chloe was right. You really are cheap and obsessed with money." "Fine, I just sent you some cash. Make sure you prepare a few grand dishes tonight. Don't embarrass me." He sent me eighty dollars via PayPal. I accepted it and ignored his snide remarks. This was the only way I could survive in this house for now. With one hand holding Leo and the other carrying several heavy grocery bags, I navigated the crowded supermarket aisles. While I was busy haggling over the price at the seafood counter, Leo suddenly let go of my hand. I reacted instantly and chased after him. He ran so fast that my aging legs couldn't catch up. Seeing him dash straight toward the street with a car speeding right at him, an adrenaline rush came out of nowhere. I lunged forward and threw my arms around him, pulling him to the curb. The car screeched to a halt inches in front of us. The driver rolled down the window and cursed me out. All I could do was nod repeatedly and apologize. Collapsing onto the pavement, I realized my arms and knees were badly scraped. Thank God Leo was unharmed. Ignoring the stinging pain from my wounds, I gathered our scattered groceries and limped back home to cook. After all, I didn't have the means to leave just yet.That evening, I spent four or five hours sweating over the stove preparing a seafood feast. I waited and waited, but my son never came home. Finally, I dialed his number. "Mom, I figured cooking seafood would be too much trouble for you, so I took Chloe's parents out to a nice restaurant. We'll be home soon. Just clean up the place and don't embarrass me." Listening to the lively chatter in the background through the receiver, I stared at the full table of food, lost in thought. How had my son turned into this? When he was little, he would make me birthday cards, massage my back, and wash my feet. How did he grow up to have no room in his heart for his own mother? I didn't want the food to go to waste, so I left it on the table. When my son walked in and saw it, he immediately started scolding me. "Didn't I tell you to clean up? Who are you displaying all this food for? You're this old and you still don't know basic social courtesy." Chloe clung to her mother's arm, whining like an aggrieved child. "Mom, look at my mother-in-law. She's trying to guilt-trip us." "What's the meaning of this?" Chloe's mother piped up. "Are you implying we disrespected your good intentions? Let me tell you, my daughter married into this family to live a good life! Forget a few crabs and shrimp—she could waste a banquet and we wouldn't bat an eye!" Before I could get a word in, my son rushed over, bowing and apologizing profusely to them. He yanked at my sleeve. "Mom, apologize," he hissed, shooting me a sharp glare. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I didn't want to apologize, but seeing my son groveling before his in-laws broke my heart. Fine. What else could I do? I was his mother. I forced myself to back down. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Davis," I said quietly, giving in. Chloe's parents finally smirked with satisfaction. "Wait, Mom, what happened to Leo's forehead?" Before one fire was put out, another was lit. Chloe noticed the small scrape on Leo's head and turned on me aggressively. I knew I was partly at fault for that. I softened my tone and explained what had happened that afternoon. "I swear, you can't even watch a kid properly. What good are you? You look plenty nimble—you didn't do this to Leo on purpose, did you?" "God as my witness! If I ever harmed Leo on purpose, may I be struck dead right here!" At Chloe's vile accusation, I snapped and shouted back. I had raised this child since the day he was born. When he was sick, I stayed up night after night at the hospital caring for him. Every single school event and parent-teacher meeting, I was the one who went. It was no exaggeration to say I had poured more love into him than I had into my own son when he was small. For Chloe to say something so cruel was completely unbearable. "You're so petty, who knows if you were trying to get back at me," Chloe muttered, grabbing Leo by the hand and walking toward the door. My son, Justin, merely glanced at my bruised and bleeding legs before walking out after them, slamming the door shut. I was left all alone in the dead-silent house.My son and his family didn't return all night. Since I didn't have to walk Leo to school the next morning, I took the bus over to see the woman from the park. She told me there were currently no openings for live-in housekeepers. Hearing that, my heart sank into my stomach. Was I really destined to spend the rest of my life walking on eggshells around my son and daughter-in-law? I dragged my feet all the way back, only to find that Justin and Chloe had already returned. The way they were looking at me was hostile. "What's going on?" I spoke up first. "Mom, I never thought you were this kind of person!" Justin yelled, furious. I was completely baffled. "Save the act! Let me ask you: did you take the gold necklace off my nightstand? That was a birthday gift for my mother! Do you honestly think you deserve to wear something like that?" Chloe's venomous glare pierced right through me. My eyes widened in shock. I turned to my son. "You suspect me, too?" Justin looked away, but his voice was cold and resolute. "You were the only one home today. If it wasn't you, who else could it be?" "Don't you have cameras? Check the footage!" My conscience was clear, and I wasn't afraid of any recording. We checked the cameras, but the footage only showed me walking near their nightstand. My back was turned toward the lens, so my hands weren't visible. "Aha! You old thief! I knew it was you!" Chloe shrieked. "Give it back right now, or I'm calling the police!" "I really couldn't tell! You're this old and you've got sticky fingers? No wonder you stole Leo's money for drinks. You're just a shameless, greedy parasite! Disgusting!" Chloe stood with her hands on her hips, her index finger practically poking into my nose. Her words were vile beyond belief. "You..." Before I could finish, my vision went black, and I collapsed. "Justin, while your mom's still knocked out, search her pockets." Through the haze of consciousness, I heard Chloe's voice. What? That sentence jolted me wide awake. I opened my eyes and realized they hadn't taken me to the emergency room at all. I was still lying on that cold metal cot in the storage room. "See? I told you she was faking it!" The moment she saw my eyes flutter open, Chloe crossed her arms with a smug, knowing smirk. "Mom, if you want a gold necklace, I'll take you out to buy one later. But this one won't do. Just hand it over," my son pleaded, sounding like he was doing me a favor. "I didn't take it." I turned my face to the wall, refusing to look at them. "I don't believe you. Not unless you let me search you," Chloe demanded sharply. Seeing her act so brazenly made my blood boil. "Justin, what is the meaning of this?" To my absolute horror, he actually agreed with her. "If you didn't steal it, what are you afraid of? Besides, isn't this a great chance to prove your innocence?" "No!" This wasn't just about innocence; it was about my dignity. Chloe looked me up and down with a cold sneer. "Fine. Don't blame me for doing this the hard way." She told my son to pin my arms and legs down while she began patting me down. Inside and out, she dug through every single pocket on my clothes. I fought back with all my might, but an old woman is no match for a grown man's strength. Tears finally broke through my defenses and streamed down my cheeks. "Justin, have you lost your damn mind?! I've slaved away in your house for years! Even if you don't care about my hard work, show some basic human decency! How could you humiliate me like this?!" I screamed at him, but it made no difference. When Chloe found nothing on me, she turned around and began tossing everything inside my tiny room. My heart died completely in that moment. I stood in the hallway, watching the two of them throw my few belongings out into the corridor one by one. Right then, my phone buzzed with a text. I looked down, read it, and smiled through my tears. Finally, I could leave this hellhole.