I left my wife outside in the freezing cold because my sister yelled, “That woman is using you”; when I opened the balcony door I found a fingerprint, a cigarette butt and an unfinished letter, but what destroyed me the most was knowing who those $8,000 were really for.

But nothing was enough.

“Oh, Nora, what a shame about the fish,” said Gwen, barely taking a bite. “In my town, this is fried properly, with real lard and salt. The way you made it, it looks like hospital food.”

Nora lowered her gaze. Liam watched his wife crunch her fingers on the napkin, but said nothing.

Gwen had always been like that, strict, bossy, and overprotective. Since his mother became a widow, Gwen had become almost a second mother to Liam.

After dinner, Nora went to wash the dishes. Gwen waited until the tap water started running and leaned towards her brother.

“Liam, open your eyes. Your little wife is taking your money,” Gwen whispered.

He let out an awkward laugh. “Don’t start, Gwen. Come on.”

“I’m not making this up. I heard her on the phone,” Gwen insisted. “She was saying, ‘Mom, just wait a little while, I’ve saved up a bit more and I’ll send you the rest.’ Where do you think that money comes from?”