“Left with Nothing”
“How can you say such a thing? Hes a living personyour husbands own brother!”
“And Ill say it againId rather burn that money than give it to him! At least then itd do some good! If he doesnt care about his own health, why should I?” snapped Emily, the younger sister-in-law, pursing her lips in defiance.
Margaret, the mother-in-law, was nearly breathless with outrage. Andrew, her youngest son, sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He seemed just as shocked but was trying to keep his composure. That was Andrewalways level-headed, never one to panic, always thinking logically rather than reacting emotionally.
“Emily, you cant be serious! Life is long. Today you help him, tomorrow he might help you,” Margaret argued, struggling to make sense of such a simple concept to a woman who should have known better.
“Oh, please! Him? That glutton? Hes drowning in debt!”
“Em, not everything is about money,” Margaret sighed. “If you love Andrew, at least show some respect for his brother. Im not asking you to sit by his hospital bed!”
“Margaret, with all due respect, we have our own plans,” Emily replied coldly. “Were saving for our daughters future. Unlike Simon, she actually has a chance to make something of herself.”
Margarets cheeks burned with anger. The way Emily spoke of her eldest son, as if he were dirt under her nailsbut that wasnt true at all.
Simon might not have been the most ambitious, but he was a good family man. He worked hard, loved his wife and son, and never strayed. Just an ordinary bloke, like thousands of others.
Andrew, on the other hand, was fiercely driven. From childhood, hed dreamed of standing out from the crowd and securing his place in the world. Hed chosen his careerdentistrynot out of passion, but for the money. And it had paid off. For a while, he was making a fortune, working long hours, dealing with difficult patients, but living well.
Simon wasnt destitute either, though he struggled. He had a caron financeand a flat left to him by his grandmother.
But he also had a weakness for rich food. Simon was notorious for his love of sweets, bread, and butter. He skipped breakfast only to make up for it at dinner, and weekends were spent lounging. It wasnt dire, but the extra weight was obvious.
“Simon, love, you should eat more salads. Proper ones, not covered in dressing,” Margaret would chide him.
Still, she hadnt worrieduntil he landed in hospital with heart trouble. A whole list of problems, the doctor said.
“Youll need to change your dietpossibly for life.”
Simon didnt listen. At first, he managed, then gave up entirely. He skipped follow-ups, abandoned treatment after the first round, and when he felt ill, he just soldiered on.
“Claire, youve got to make him see a doctor. Hell kill himself at this rate,” Margaret pleaded with her elder daughter-in-law.
“Ive tried! But you try forcing him. Stubborn as a mule. Ive nagged him about his diet till Im blue in the face. And what? I throw out the butter, he buys more. Says if I keep feeding him rabbit food, hell stop eating at home,” Claire sighed.
Everyone knew Simon wouldnt change unless he wanted to. But he didnt. And how many people were like that? Pushing things off until it was almost too late.
But Emily, the younger sister-in-lawshe didnt just disapprove of Simon. She seemed to despise him.
“I dont see why you all fuss over him. Let him dig his own grave,” she scoffed once when Margaret and Andrew were discussing his brother.
Margaret tried to convince herself that Emily was just strong-willed, that sometimes tough love worked. But deep down, she knewher daughter-in-law was just cruel and indifferent.
It had been clear for a while. Emily never shared anything. If Margaret asked for help, Emily always had an excusetoo busy, promised her mum, not feeling well. Shed never lifted a finger at Margarets cottage, yet showed up for every barbecue. When they needed someone to watch their granddaughter, Emily called Margaret before her own mother.
Margaret had kept quiet for yearsnot her place to interfere. But now she was starting to worry about Andrew, too.
A few days earlier, Simon had another attack. He needed surgery. The doctors warned recovery would be long. For the first time, Simon seemed scaredquiet, barely eating, brushing off questions.
Margaret couldnt take it anymore and called Claire.
“Claire How are you managing? Simon wont tell me anything.”
“Oh, Margaret Im terrified,” Claire admitted. “You know were barely scraping by as it is. And now tests, medicine, surgery You know what the NHS is like these days.”
“Dont fret, love. Well sort the money. Hes family. Well all chip in.”
“If you can help, Ill be eternally grateful.”
For Margaret, money was the least of their worries. She assumed Andrew and Emily would helpshed raised her sons to support each other.
What she hadnt expected was Emily digging in her heels. Especially since Emily lived entirely off Andrews earnings. She stayed home, “keeping house”though in reality, she lived for herself. Gym classes, lunches with friends, new outfits every time Margaret saw her.
“Your daughters future” Margaret repeated slowly. “Do you realize Simon might not have a future if we turn our backs now?”
Emily clenched her jaw.
“He stuffed his face for years, had his funand now I should pay for it? Not a chance! Hes a grown man; let him sort himself out!”
With that, she stormed out.
“Andy, Im waiting in the car,” she tossed over her shoulder.
But Andrew didnt follow. He stared at the table, fists clenched. Margaret looked away.
A heavy silence fell. Something inside both of them broke. After minutes of quiet, Andrew picked up his phone.
“Andy Ive never interfered, but Today she refused to help your brotherwith your money. What if tomorrow its you who needs help? What then?” Margaret asked softly.
“I know, Mum. Dont worryIll help Simon. But Emily Im not sure I want to stay with someone like that.”
That day, Andrew sent Emily home in a taxinot to their house, but to her parents. She screamed, threatened divorce, called him a mummys boy. But he stood firm.
He filed first. For a while, Emily waited for him to crawl back. When he didnt, she threatened to take their daughter.
“Ill take her, and youll never see her again!”
“Dont be ridiculous. You havent even asked about her since we split,” Andrew snorted.
Still, they had to negotiate. Emily demanded half of everything, though shed contributed nothing. In the end, she settled for the carAndrew gave it to her just to be done with it.
Margaret never saw her again. From social media, it seemed Emily had developed a hatred for all men. No more fancy restaurantsnow it was just fast food. Gone were the false lashes and weekly blowouts.
In the end, shed been too greedyand was left with nothing.
“Any regrets about the divorce?” Margaret asked Andrew once, feeling partly responsible.
“None. If helping my brother was a crime to her, then we were never right for each other.”
He didnt seem to dwell on it. He had work, his daughter to raisethough thankfully, Lily was old enough not to need constant care.
As for Simonhe recovered well. The surgery went smoothly, and this time, he took his second chance seriously. He stuck to his diet, even started walking with Claire. Their family was smaller now, but stronger than ever.
