Part 2 – The Night I Finally Chose My Wife Over the Family That Used Me
Emily cried out again.
The sound cut deeper than anything I had ever heard.
I wrapped one arm around her while reaching for my phone with the other.
"I'm calling the hospital."
She grabbed my wrist.
"I think... I think it's only stress."
"I don't care if it's stress or labor. We're leaving."
The shattered plate still lay across the kitchen floor.
Only then did the loud crash finally catch someone's attention.
Kayla wandered into the kitchen, chewing another slice of pizza.
"What happened?"
She looked at the broken dish before glancing at Emily.
"Oh my God. Did she seriously drop another plate?"
Another.
The word echoed in my head.
My wife wasn't a person to them.
She was their maid.
Before I could answer, my mother appeared in the doorway.
Teresa folded her arms.
"I hope you're not making a scene over one broken plate."
I stared at her.
"You've got ten seconds to explain why my eight-months-pregnant wife is washing dishes while four healthy adults sit in my living room."
She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Ethan, don't be dramatic."
"Dramatic?"
"Emily insisted on helping."
Emily immediately shook her head.
"I never—"
Teresa interrupted.
"See? She's emotional. Pregnancy hormones."
Brittany laughed from behind her phone.
"We told her she didn't have to clean."
Emily whispered, "That's not true..."
Lily shrugged.
"She wanted to prove she wasn't lazy."
Something inside me snapped.
"No."
Every voice stopped.
I had never raised my voice at them before.
Not once.
"You lied."
Silence.
"For years I believed I was taking care of family."
I pointed around the apartment.
"I paid the rent."
No one answered.
"I paid every utility."
Silence.
"I bought Brittany's phone."
She slowly lowered it.
"I covered Kayla's credit card."
Her face turned pale.
"I paid Lily's tuition after she dropped out."
She couldn't meet my eyes.
"And Mom..."
I looked directly at Teresa.
"I paid for everything after Dad died because I believed you needed me."
She sniffed.
"And we did."
"No."
I shook my head.
"You wanted me."
She frowned.
"There's a difference."
Emily squeezed my hand weakly.
I continued.
"Do you know how many hours I worked this month?"
Nobody answered.
"Three hundred and six."
Even my sisters looked surprised.
"I missed doctor appointments."
I missed baby classes.
I skipped meals.
I barely slept.
Because I thought I was protecting all of us.
Instead...
I was financing people who were bullying my wife."
Teresa scoffed.
"She's turning you against your own family."
I looked at Emily, exhausted and trembling beside me.
"No."
"I finally see my family clearly."
Then my phone rang.
It was Dr. Collins.
Earlier that afternoon, Emily had gone in for a routine prenatal checkup while I was working.
The doctor sounded concerned.
"Mr. Carter, we've been trying to reach your wife. Her blood pressure today was dangerously high. Combined with severe stress, she's at risk of developing preeclampsia. She needs immediate rest."
My heart stopped.
"Is the baby okay?"
"For now."
For now.
I slowly lowered the phone.
Every person in the room was suddenly quiet.
I looked directly at my mother.
"Your behavior nearly put my wife and my son in the hospital."
Teresa opened her mouth.
I held up my hand.
"No."
"You don't get to speak anymore."
I walked into our bedroom.
Pulled two suitcases from the closet.
Packed clothes for Emily and me.
Then I returned to the living room.
"You have until tomorrow morning."
Teresa frowned.
"For what?"
"To leave."
She laughed.
"You can't kick out your own mother."
I walked to the desk.
Opened the drawer.
Pulled out the lease.
Only one name appeared.
Ethan Carter.
Mine.
"The apartment is mine."
"The bills are mine."
"The furniture is mine."
"And your free ride ends tomorrow."
Brittany stood.
"Where are we supposed to go?"
I answered calmly.
"The same place you expected my pregnant wife to stand while cleaning up after you."
Silence.
"Figure it out."
Emily leaned against me as we walked toward the door.
Behind us came shouting.
Crying.
Threats.
Accusations.
May you like
For the first time in my life...
I didn't turn around.
