Alex and I trailed behind at a slower pace.
At the hotel entrance, Junior blocked our path. His expression was murderous.
"What the hell was that supposed to mean?"
His voice came out in a strangled hiss.
"Did you do that on purpose? Making me look like a complete idiot in front of my classmates!"
I met his glare with genuine confusion.
"We told the truth. You're the one who finds us embarrassing—but honestly, who's the real embarrassment here?"
I gave a helpless shrug.
"You had money for a villa this whole time, and you let me rot in some backwater town teaching painting."
"You watched me grovel for five thousand dollars. Watched me humiliate myself!"
His eyes had gone red—whether from rage or self-pity, I couldn't tell.
"That job was your choice. We never forced you." Alex's voice was low and firm. "If the pay wasn't enough, you could've found something else. Instead, you blamed us for everything."
I picked up where he left off, my heart turning to ice.
"You're twenty-eight years old and still shamelessly leeching off your parents. You're the joke."
Junior's whole body shook as he jabbed a finger at us.
"From now on, I don't have parents like you. And don't you dare call me your son!"
I smiled, looped my arm through Alex's, and walked right past him.
Behind us, Junior's strangled howl echoed like something inside him had shattered.
The next afternoon, I was sorting through old belongings when someone pounded on the door hard enough to rattle the frame.
I opened it to find not just Junior, but his grandmother.
Gloria Finch was in her seventies and had always doted on this grandson more than anyone else in the family.
"Alex Whitney! What is wrong with you? How could you treat my grandson this way?"
Her voice was loud enough to draw neighbors to their doorways, heads craning to watch.
Junior lurked behind her, radiating wounded victimhood.
"Grandma, please don't get upset. This is all my fault."
His fake attempt to calm her only fanned the flames higher.
"What is the matter with you?" Gloria clutched her chest in exaggerated anguish, then wheeled on me. "I hear you've got money for some fancy villa, but you won't spare your own grandson five thousand dollars?"
I stepped back from the doorway.
"Come inside if you want to talk. Don't make a scene out here."
"We'll talk right here! Let the neighbors be the judge!"
Gloria wasn't backing down.
"When my son married you, I knew you were petty. Not fit for decent company."
"And look—now that you've got money, you've turned your back on family. Can't even spare a dime for your own child!"
One venomous accusation after another.
Alex emerged from inside, his expression darkening.
"Mom, what are you even saying?"
"Saying? I'm saying what your wife did!"
Gloria slapped her thigh for emphasis.
"I don't care how you do it. Today, you're transferring that villa into Junior's name. And you're giving him ten thousand a month for living expenses."
I almost laughed.
"That house is our retirement home. It's not going anywhere."
My voice left no room for negotiation.
"As for living expenses—not a cent. He's twenty-eight with two working hands."
"This is outrageous!"
Gloria's voice hit a pitch that could shatter glass.
"Son, are you just going to stand there while she treats your mother like this? Treats your son like this? Spineless coward!"
A vein pulsed at Alex's temple.
"She's right! You spoiled Junior rotten. The way he turned out? That's on you!"
"On me? Everything I did was for the Mason family!"
Gloria launched into full theatrics.
"Fine. If you won't agree today, I'll die right here on your doorstep."
She started lowering herself toward the ground.
Junior rushed to catch her, shooting us a pleading look.
"Can you really stand watching Grandma get this upset? She's old—what if something happens to her?"
"Just agree to it, okay? I'm begging you. I don't want the house anymore. Just give me a little money every month."
What a move—retreating to advance, moral blackmail wrapped in a victim act.
The neighbors murmured among themselves, pointing and whispering.
Before, I might have softened.
But watching this grandmother-grandson duo perform their little tragedy, all I felt was disgust.
"Whether you live or die is your business."
My voice was ice.
"Alex, I made it clear enough yesterday. We're done."
Gloria and Junior both froze, clearly not expecting me to hold firm.
"You vicious woman!"
Gloria pointed at me, her hand trembling.
Junior's gaze turned venomous.
"Alex Whitney, don't regret this."
"What I regret most is treating you too well."
I met his eyes without flinching.
He nodded slowly, then suddenly whipped out his phone, aiming it at me and my husband.
"Everyone, look! These are my biological parents!"
"They can afford a villa, but they'd watch their own son and an elderly grandmother die without lifting a finger! They forced Grandma to kneel!"
He shouted, twisting the truth, playing to the crowd.
Gloria played along perfectly, fake-crying and dabbing at her eyes.
The neighbors' expressions grew uncertain.
My husband stepped forward to grab the phone, but I stopped him.
I looked directly into the camera lens and smiled.
"Record it clearly, Junior. Make sure you catch every word of what I'm about to say."
I stepped forward, my tone firm.
"I, Alex Whitney, and my husband, Alex Mason, hereby make a formal statement."
"Because our son, after becoming an adult, has made endless demands and subjected us to years of mental abuse and humiliation, after careful consideration, we are terminating the parent-child relationship."
