The Sister-in-law Who Loves to Take Advantage

Not long after I left the mall, my phone started ringing non-stop.

Ellie kept calling me over and over.

It was obvious that she was quite anxious.

The phone kept buzzing so much that I got annoyed and finally picked it up, slowly and deliberately.

She asked, "Myra, where did you go? Why haven't you answered my calls?

"Get back here and pay up."

Her voice was full of urgency on the other end.

I calmly replied, "Ellie, my stomach hurts. I'm in the bathroom. Talk later, okay?"

Without waiting for her response, I hung up the phone. Soon after, I got a barrage of texts from her.

[Myra, what's the deal? Leaving right when it's time to pay? Are you trying to mess with me?]

[Myra, don't go too far. Transfer the money to me right now.]

[Myra, there are so many store clerks here. Don't act crazy. Send me the money immediately.]

I ignored her messages, turned off my phone, and strolled around town, enjoying myself.

When I finally got home in the evening, my brother, Alex Cooke, stormed over, grabbed my collar, and yelled like a madman.

He said, "Myra, what the hell is wrong with you? Why did you leave Ellie stranded in the store?"

I pushed his hand away and said, "She's not a three-year-old. She can shop on her own without getting lost, can't she?"

But Alex was even more furious, glaring at me intensely.

He snapped, "How dare you? You picked out a dress that cost over 200 thousand dollars, didn't pay, and then left her there? What were you thinking?"

I glanced at Ellie, who was putting on a pitiful act, even forcing out a few tears. I could see what was going on.

She had framed me, claiming I wanted to buy the dress.

It was disgusting.

It was bad enough she always took advantage of me, but now she was trying to pin this on me too.

Did she really think I was that easy to bully?

My mom Ann stood up from the couch and scolded me, "Myra, you've gone too far this time."

Because she was there, I held back my anger.

But when I stayed silent, Alex just got more aggressive.

He said, "I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?

"Do you know how humiliated Ellie was, surrounded by all those store clerks?"

I looked at him, no longer bothering to hide my frustration.

I said, "Did she tell you it was me who picked out the dress?"

Without thinking, he snapped back, "Who else could it be?

"Ellie is always so thrifty. She'd never buy something that expensive.

"Only someone as reckless as you would spend 200 thousand dollars on a dress."

Thrifty?

I almost laughed out loud.

Why sugarcoat it? She wasn't thrifty.

She was just stingy—especially when it came to spending her own money.

When it was mine, she always went for the most expensive stuff.

I noticed the dress on the couch. They must've scraped together the money to pay for it since the tags were already off.

It couldn't be returned.

I snorted, "Me, buy that? Did you even look at the size? Does it look like it would fit me?

"Do you think I'm out of my mind, spending 200 thousand dollars on a dress I can't even wear?"

Alex was stunned, at a loss for words.

I asked, "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? There's store surveillance. How about we check the footage to see who really wanted that dress?"

Ellie lost her cool.

She chimed in, "Why are you yelling? You told me to buy it. That's why I cut off the tags.

"Otherwise, why would I do something like that? And then you just disappeared on me."

I rolled my eyes at her words.

I said, "Ellie, I never said I'd pay for it.

"If you're going to shop, stop eyeing other people's wallets and have some self-respect."

Ellie started crying, her tears streaming down as she looked more pitiful.

Ann stepped forward, her face stern.

She sulked, "Myra, how can you talk to Ellie like that?

"You were never this harsh before."

Before?

Back then, I was just too foolish, always trying to save face.

Who would've thought she'd treat me like a pushover too?

I argued, "Mom, be honest. She's my sister-in-law, but is it right for her to always spend my money and take advantage of me?"

"Enough!" Alex exploded, cursing at me.

"What do you mean, take advantage? Everything you eat, drink, and use in this house comes from us.

"Pay for the dress right now, or don't blame me for cutting ties with you."