“I love Daddy the most!”
One big happy family. All smiles, all together.
And every pair of eyes in the room looked at me like I was the villain who didn't belong.
All that contempt aimed my way, and I almost wanted to laugh.
Ervin hadn't contributed a single thing to this household in years.
Yet somehow he'd become the hero in everyone's eyes. The saint. The great man.
And me? I'd bled myself dry for this family and ended up cast as the villain.
So what was I even fighting for?
I nodded, keeping my voice level:
“You're right. Charity donations should be all or nothing. I hope he keeps it up.”
The moment I changed my stance, Ervin's face lit up with smug satisfaction:
“Finally. You get it.”
“What I'm doing is a great and noble thing. As my wife, you should be supporting me. If money's tight at home, work harder. Pick up extra shifts. Or get a second job if you have to.”
His parents jumped right in:
“Exactly. Instead of complaining, maybe look at yourself first. Having a husband like Ervin is a privilege.”
“Stop being lazy and eyeing his money all the time.”
I smiled, said nothing, and quietly took out my phone.
Three days ago, Manager Lawrence had sent me a message:
“Delilah, the company has a six-month intensive training program at the Corporate Headquarters Training Center.”
“Spots are extremely hard to come by. Once you finish, you come back as a director. Salary jumps several-fold.”
“Leadership thinks you've been an absolute workhorse these past few years and you're perfect for this. Want to think it over?”
I'd replied:
“Manager Lawrence, my in-laws aren't in great health and my son is still young. The family can't do without me. I probably can't go.”
It wasn't that I didn't want to. I just couldn't let go of this family.
The program was completely closed off. Six months with no coming home, no phone, no contact with anyone on the outside.
Six months. No one else earning a paycheck. Who would buy my father-in-law's medication? Who would take my mother-in-law to her checkups? Who would pay Clark's tuition? Who would cover the mortgage and the car payments?
Mervyn thought it was a waste and pushed back:
“Don't say no yet. This is a really, really good opportunity. Give it some serious thought.”
Looking back now, I'd been such a fool.
I'd nearly thrown away the chance of a lifetime for people who never once treated me like family.
I took a deep breath and typed:
“Manager Lawrence, I'm in. When do I leave?”
He replied in seconds:
“That's what I've been waiting to hear!”
“Tomorrow morning. Just get me your paperwork tonight and you're set.”
I sent back “Got it”, then threw together my materials and submitted everything as fast as I could.
Mervyn moved just as quickly. He booked my flight for the next morning within minutes.
The next day, I woke before dawn.
Ervin and his parents were still asleep. I packed a small bag, called a car, and left for the airport alone.
By the time the plane landed, it was already afternoon.
The second I switched my phone on, it flooded with missed calls and messages from Ervin:
“Delilah, where are you?”
“My parents are out of medication. Get over here and buy it now. They're really not doing well.”
“And the kindergarten just called. Clark's tuition is past the final deadline. If it's not paid today, he gets pulled from school!”
