Virginia commented: [You… you must have faked this screenshot!]
Madison added: [Tristan, you’ve crossed the line!]
As I was about to type, a notification appeared: [You have been removed from the ‘Loving Family’ group chat by the owner!]
I stared at my phone in shock for a few seconds, then laughed bitterly and threw it onto the bed.
A while later, my mom opened the door, eyes still red. “Tristan, your dad was just angry and didn’t want you to say anything wrong, so he removed you from the group chat… Don’t blame him.”
“Mom, I don’t blame Dad,” I said, shaking my head. “But I don’t think I did anything wrong, either.”
She sighed and sat beside my bed. “Actually… I remember everything you said. I haven’t forgotten.”
I asked, “Then why did you keep tolerating it?”
“It’s just a habit,” she said softly. “We always think it’s wrong for relatives to fight. It’s bad for them and for us.” She paused, then gently patted my hand. “Go to bed early.”
After my mom left, I picked up my phone and looked at the family group chat I could never rejoin, but I didn’t feel sad about it.