Hearing this, my mom’s eyes welled up with tears, and my dad moved, raised his glass and took a big sip.
“Zack, hearing that from you makes us feel so reassured.”
After dinner, Dad was so pleased and a bit tipsy that Mom had to help him to bed.
My brother and his wife weren’t happy and wore long faces.
I started unpacking the gifts I had brought: sea cucumbers, bird’s nest, skincare products, cashmere sweaters, and thermal underwear.
The more I revealed, the more uncomfortable my brother seemed.
I made sure to speak loudly.
“Don’t be upset. These are all gifts Zack specifically got for Mom and Dad. I remember when Luna first came over, she didn’t bring anything.”
My brother forced a chuckle. “We can’t compete with you. Money’s easier to come by in the big city.”
“That’s not really fair,” I shot back. “No one’s money just falls from the sky. While I was working late, you and Luna were out drinking and playing cards.”
I let it all out, speaking my mind without holding back.
After I finished unpacking, I returned to the room and felt a surge of awkwardness.
Tonight, I was supposed to share a room with Zachary.
Looking at the cozy, well-made bed, I felt incredibly uneasy.