After My In-Laws Tried to Rob Me, I Taught Them a Lesson

It was my younger brother's birthday, so I bought him a luxury watch as a gift.

When my brother-in-law found out, he started smashing things around the house.

I thought he was angry that I hadn't bought him anything, so I immediately bought a watch of the same value and presented it to him.

To my shock, he grabbed it and threw it far across the room.

"Edward, who gave you permission to spend so much money on Jacob?!"

I froze.

I'm spending my own money—do I need anyone's permission?

Then he said something that completely shattered my worldview.

"Every penny you spend now is the money I'll need for my future wife! You buy Jacob a thirty-thousand-dollar watch, and my future marital home loses a solid wood bed!"

I couldn't help asking, "What kind of bed costs thirty thousand, and what does your future home have to do with me?"

"My sister said that when I get married, she'll gift me a riverside penthouse worth no less than thirty million!"

I suppressed my anger and nodded calmly.

"Oh, then go ask your sister yourself."

——

"Sis, can you control Edward? If this keeps up, he'll spend all my penthouse money!"

Heidi came up to me, winking and gesturing insistently.

"Just this once, it won't happen again."

I was about to lose my temper, but she lowered her voice and begged, "Honey, give me a little face—Cyrus is still young. Why argue with him?"

She dragged me into the bedroom, muttering, "I need to teach you a lesson."

Once inside, she clasped her hands and bowed.

"Honey, I was wrong. Don't be mad. I just said yes to Cyrus casually—I didn't expect him to take it seriously!"

This was what I like about Heidi—she admits mistakes quickly and sincerely. Half my anger immediately melted away.

"You said it casually, and now we owe your brother an entire apartment! And he's actually taking it seriously. You need to set him straight."

Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open. Cyrus charged in.

I was annoyed immediately. "Cyrus, how many times have I told you to knock before entering our room?!"

"Forget that useless stuff!" he waved a little notebook in his hand. "I need to set some rules right now, or when I get married, my penthouse will only have a toilet left!"

He started dictating rules as he scribbled furiously.

"From now on, all your monthly income goes to my account. I'll give you six hundred dollar pocket money per month. Any extra expenses require my approval—you must submit a report for me to consider."

He continued scribbling. "Today, you spent thirty thousand dollars on Jacob's watch, and without my approval, you bought me another thirty thousand dollar watch. Now you owe me sixty thousand."

"This will be deducted from your pocket money—three hundred dollar per month."

He pulled out his phone calculator and clicked. "That's two hundred months—sixteen years and eight months."

I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. "Heidi, is your brother insane?"

Heidi put a hand on my arm, signaling me to stay quiet.

"Fine, let's do it your way."

The moment she agreed, Cyrus beamed with joy.

"My sister is the best! Unlike some people, who don't know how to value family!"

Then he even rolled his eyes at me.

That was it—I completely lost it.

"That's my biological brother—we both share the surname Phillips—how is he an outsider? Cyrus, you need to get your position straight. I'm your brother-in-law, not your dad!"

"And I never agreed to give you all my income. I'm your senior—yet you're trying to set rules for me! All those years of school wasted—didn't your teachers teach you to respect your elders?!"