My sister-in-law, Ellie Cooke, was notorious for being a freeloader.

She'd ask me to cover her utility bills when she couldn't pay them.

She'd have me pay her property management fees.

On her birthday, she'd say she'd treat everyone to a meal, but when the bill came, she'd disappear, claiming she was in the bathroom and asking me to cover it.

When I asked her for the money, she'd snap back at me.

She complained, "We're family, and you're asking me for money? You eat my food and live in my house, and I've never asked you for money.

"Don't you consider me your sister-in-law?"

Out of respect for my parents, I didn't pursue the matter further.

This time, she had her eye on a dress that cost twenty thousand dollars, and she turned to me again.

I said, "Ellie, if you like it, just buy it."

She was thrilled and, afraid I'd change my mind, she ripped off the price tag and put the dress on right away.

But when it came time to pay, it was my turn to disappear.

*****

She asked, "Myra, does this dress look good on me?"

Ellie stood in front of the mirror, admiring herself.

I could tell she really liked the dress, and she was only asking me because she wanted me to pay for it.

Ellie was notorious for being a freeloader.

She'd take advantage of others outside, and at home, she wouldn't spare me either.

She'd ask me to cover her utility bills when she couldn't pay them.

She'd have the property management bills sent directly to me.

Even though I rarely lived at home, she'd find a way to make me pay for anything that cost money.

She'd use excuses like, "I'm short on money this month. You cover it, and I'll pay you back as soon as I get paid next month."

Or she'd disappear when the bill came, calling me to cover it and promising to pay me back later.

But what?

When I asked her for the money, she'd get angry and snap back at me.

She said, "We're family, and you're asking me for money?

"You eat my food and live in my house, and I've never asked you for money."

She'd act all self-righteous, as if I'd committed some terrible crime.

But the truth was, she lived in my house, and I paid for the daily meals.

She and her family were living in my villa for free and still trying to take advantage of me.

In the past, out of respect for my parents, I didn't make a fuss.

But now, Ellie was getting worse, constantly taking advantage of me, and I couldn't take it anymore.

She said to me, "I'm talking to you."

Seeing that I didn't respond, she hurriedly pushed me.

I replied, "Of course, it looks good, Ellie. You look great in anything."

I forced a smile.

Her eyes lit up, but then she looked uncertain, glancing at me.

She said, "It's just a bit expensive, costing 28 thousand dollars."

I smiled and said, "Ellie, if you like it, just buy it."

She was overjoyed and even cut off the price tag, not planning to take the dress off.

In the past, whenever I offered, she'd find a reason to make me pay.

But this time, I excused myself to the bathroom and left the mall.

In the past, it was always her disappearing when the bill came.

I muttered, "Ellie, this time it's your turn to feel what that's like."

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."

Alex's arrogant attitude left me speechless.

Ellie, backed by Ann and Alex, had her chin up, looking smug.

She had this "got you" expression on her face.

I couldn't believe their nerve.

"No money for you," I said. "You're not my son. Why should I give you money?

"And the food, the drinks, the monthly expenses... are they covered by you?

"I haven't eaten a bite of your food or used a cent of your money."

I felt helpless.

I didn't have the energy to argue anymore.

Alex had no skills, yet his standards were sky-high. He either complained about low wages or thought regular jobs were beneath him. He wanted to make big bucks.

Here he was, well into his years, with no decent job.

He couldn't even support himself, let alone a family. It was laughable.

As for Ellie, she hadn't worked a day since they got married. She was lazy, loved to eat, and played cards all day.

How could they even say such things?

Ellie snorted, "If you hadn't taken money from our mom, you'd have starved by now. Yet you have the nerve to say this."

She was not happy about my words.

She continued, "What's our mom's is ours.

"You're eating our food for free, and when I ask you to buy something, you act like this. I'd rather have a dog than deal with you."

I snorted.

I looked at her smug face and didn't know what to say.

Ann, in her fifties, had no job. Her savings had been squandered by Alex and Ellie.

The money she gave Alex now was actually from me.

I'd been earning since college, and after graduation, I made good money in the internet boom. I was practically financially independent.

I cared for Ann and gave her a good amount of money each month.

Even though she gave it all to Alex, I didn't complain.

But even so, Ellie and Alex still tried to take advantage of me.

They even made me pay for small things like utilities.

"Eating for free?" I was shaking with anger.

"Go ahead, ask Mom who gives her money every month, money that you both squander."

Ann tugged at me, telling me not to be so aggressive.

In the past, I'd let small things slide for her sake.

But they were pushing their luck, thinking they could walk all over me.

I continued, "You both rely on me for everything—food, money, even this house. And you say I'm eating for free?

"Should I print out all the expenses from these years to show you who's really freeloading?"

They were stunned, their faces turning pale and then red, but they couldn't argue back.

Because it was the truth.

Finally, Alex shouted, "How dare you talk to me like that? I'm your brother."

Ellie chimed in, "Yeah, you ungrateful brat."

Ungrateful? Now they were talking about gratitude?

I looked at them with disdain.

I scoffed, "Gratitude? Your idea of gratitude is making others pay for your stuff?"

"Enough!" Ann interrupted before Alex could respond.

She was furious. "Myra, you were never this unreasonable before.

"Apologize to Alex and Ellie."