In the past, my father-in-law and mother-in-law had looked down on me, but at least they maintained a basic level of courtesy.
Recently, however, their words had turned sharp and sarcastic, constantly comparing me with Brandon.
So this was what it was about.
They were still upset that a week ago, when my father-in-law sprained his back, I hadn't gone to the hospital to visit him.
But they seemed to have forgotten the reason I couldn't come.
After I gained my boss's trust at the company and started holding real authority, they forced me to hire Brandon.
But he hadn't even finished middle school. Even starting from the most basic position as an intern assistant, he caused trouble every other day.
He once misremembered the time of an important meeting and showed up late, offending the client so badly that the deal nearly fell apart.
Another time, he accidentally sent our core profit data to a partner company.
They seized on the information as leverage, and our company ended up losing thirty percent of its profits.
Every time, I had to clean up the mess he left behind. Yet, he never learned his lesson.
With Megan and her parents backing him, he acted recklessly. In the end, his stupidity and ignorance were exploited by someone with ulterior motives.
For the sake of a massive kickback, he abused his position and secretly embezzled company funds. Luckily, I discovered it in time and stopped it.
I went to enormous lengths to calm the client and pleaded with my superiors. Only then did we barely manage to preserve the partnership.
I even kept him from going to prison.
Because of the disaster he caused, I had been running around like crazy, apologizing everywhere, begging forgiveness.
Meanwhile, he simply resigned and ran off, then busied himself flattering my in-laws.
And now it seemed he hadn't said a single good word about me to them.
A truly ungrateful wolf.
I glanced at Megan.
She kept her eyes lowered, as if silently consenting to everything.
I had expected it—but my heart still grew a little colder.
At last, I could no longer suppress my temper.
"Dad, Mom, you can't have it both ways. If I didn't focus on my work, where would you get the money to stay in a VIP room at a private hospital?
"I hired the best doctor in Alyes City to treat you. Seven days in the hospital cost eight thousand. Yet in your eyes, that's not worth as much as Brandon casually asking how you're doing?
"If that's the kind of concern you want, fine. I'll give it to you from now on. But the three thousand dollars I send home every month for living expenses will be adjusted to three hundred instead."
My mother-in-law was so shocked that the cup in her hand slipped and shattered on the ground. Her voice rose to a shrill pitch.
"On what grounds? Who could live on three hundred?!"
My father-in-law pointed at me angrily.
"Tyler, as a junior, supporting your elders is your duty! What right do you have to reduce our living expenses without permission?!"
Brandon chimed in, pretending to mediate.
"Tyler, don't be jealous. I know you're acting like this because you think I stole the spotlight. But when you didn't come to the hospital, it's normal that they had complaints. You could just behave better and smooth things over with them. Why do you have to argue like this?"
My mother-in-law patted his hand approvingly.
"Brandon is the thoughtful one. Everything he says and does always hits right at our hearts!"
My father-in-law nodded along.
"Exactly. If you can't do things properly yourself, can't others say a few words about it? You're not even one-tenth as sensible as Brandon!
"Oh right—speaking of that, I heard the salesperson who sold you that car was introduced by Brandon. How are you planning to repay that favor?
"No matter how busy you are, you can't push everything onto Brandon. He's not your servant. And he took care of me for several days while I was in the hospital—you definitely owe him compensation for the work he missed!"
My mother-in-law looked at Brandon with sympathy.
"Brandon delayed his own work to help us. At the very least, he should be compensated three times his usual salary!"
Then she turned to him.
"Brandon, how much do you earn?"
Brandon quickly waved his hands, pretending to decline.
"It was only right for me to take care of you while you were hospitalized. How could I possibly take your money?"
