This time, he wanted to move into the room
Susan had given me.
Dad chimed in.
“You’re the older brother. Be generous and let him have the room with the good view.”
Alex smirked at me.
“Yeah, bro, pack your bags and get lost!”
I wasn’t about to give up my room.
I refused.
<
8:54
But Alex and Dad kept at it, trying to drag me
out of the room.
“What’s all the commotion?”
Susan appeared, frowning.
We stopped.
Chapter 2
I got the jump on Alex, telling Susan that he
wanted to move into my room.
Susan shot Alex a dirty look.
Then she turned to Dad.
“You’re being ridiculous. Alex is your son, but
so is Mark! If you keep spoiling Alex like this,
he’s going to end up a criminal!”
Dad’s face turned bright red, like Susan had
stabbed him in the gut.
<
8:54
36
He glared and snapped, “What’s that supposed
to mean? My son deserves a nice room! I can
spoil whoever I want! They’re my sons, not yours!”
Susan’s eyes flashed.
“Are you saying I’m meddling?”
She let Alex move in and never treated him
badly.
Now Dad was saying that?
She lost her cool.
“I take care of you and your freeloading son!
You have no idea what your little angel has
been up to, do you?” Susan pointed at Alex.
“He stole my jewelry! Do you know how much
that stuff is worth?”
<
8:54
36
Alex shrugged, acting like it was no big deal.
He scoffed, “It’s just some jewelry. You’re rich,
why are you being so stingy? I was going to give it back anyway.”
Dad sided with Alex, like it was nothing.
“My son’s right. A few pieces of jewelry? Don’t
make a mountain out of a molehill.”
I couldn’t believe it.
“Dad, get real. Stealing is wrong, no matter how
much the jewelry costs. Alex shouldn’t have
done it.”
Dad slapped me across the face.
“You ungrateful brat! It’s just jewelry! Susan
has tons of it, so what if he takes a little? Why
are you sticking your nose in?”
I held my cheek, staring at Dad in disbelief.
- ))
I was hurt, furious, and on the verge of tears.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let them fall.
Susan’s voice trembled with rage.
“Lee! How could you hit him? Do you have any
idea how much that jewelry is worth? It’s grand theft! He could go to jail!”
Dad realized he’d messed up and froze.
He stared at Alex, his voice shaking.
“You… you stole expensive jewelry from Susan?”
Alex hadn’t grasped how serious this was.
He tried to play it cool.
36
<
“How do you know I took it? Where’s your proof?”
- ))
36
“Lee, get your son out of my house! Or you can
both get out!” Susan yelled, completely losing it.
Dad and Alex were stunned.
They hadn’t expected Susan to be so harsh.
Dad scrambled to fix things.
“Babe, listen, I didn’t know things would get
this bad. I promise I’ll punish him. Just don’t kick us out.”
Susan hesitated, but shook off Dad’s hand.
“It’s too late. I’m done with you. Get out of my sight!”
