From the start, Jacob’s mother looked down on me. Coming from a rural background didn’t help, especially with my brother being a slacker and my mom demanding a hefty wedding gift of 380,000 dollars.

After the wedding, every call from my mom was about money or some trouble with my brother or niece.

This only fueled Margaret’s disdain for me, and she would even join my son in calling me an ungrateful leech.

“What are you dawdling for? Where’s my coffee? I have a meeting today!”

I snapped back to reality; in preparing breakfast for my son, I’d forgotten to make my husband’s morning coffee.

“On it!” I hung up my apron and rushed to brew it.

But when I returned, the table was a mess. Margaret was heading out to take my son to school, and my husband was off to work.

Not wanting to waste food, I prepared to eat my son’s leftovers. “Only beggars eat leftovers! My mom’s a beggar!” he laughed, bouncing out the door with his grandmother.

I struggled to swallow the pasta, my eyes stinging with tears. In that moment, I felt like a total failure, unable to even raise my own son properly.

Just as my son stepped out the door, my phone rang.

“Chloe, do you have any money left? Your brother’s business is struggling, and we need to pay for Finn’s class. Can you help out?” It was my mom.

“Mom, didn’t I just send you five thousand a while ago? Why do you need money again so soon?” I frowned, tightening my grip on the phone.

“That was for Finn’s tutoring classes! It’s not the same! Why are you so clueless? Hurry up and transfer the money; the teacher is waiting!”

“Did my brother gamble again...?” I barely finished the question before my mom hung up, immediately messaging me to transfer the money.

Thinking of what Margaret said earlier, I felt my heart sinking.

“Mom, I don’t have any money left. This month, Jacob just gave me some, and I sent it to you. The finances aren’t my responsibility – ask my brother to figure something out.”

Less than two minutes later, I got a message: [If you don’t have money, just ask Jacob for some! Why are you whining to me about being broke? Is it my fault I raised you?]

I sighed as I read the message, then transferred my last five thousand.