These people held nominal positions at my company and collected hefty salaries. I treated them like family, so I gave them special consideration.
But they had never treated me like family.
Then they shouldn't expect another dollar from me.
As soon as I hung up, my phone started blowing up.
Ethan had told the family group chat.
It exploded. They came at me hard.
[Gracie, it's not that your second aunt is criticizing you, but what does a woman like you need a company for? This is old Dickerson family property. How can you be so immature?]
[Gracie, your third uncle has to say a couple words too. Was it easy for your mom and dad to raise you? Back then, your mom almost died giving birth to you. Is this how you repay them?]
My third uncle's words were like a knife to the chest.
This was also the family's trump card for controlling me.
[Back then even the doctors said you couldn't be born, the risk was too big, but your mom couldn't bear it and took the risk to give birth to you. She says a couple words to you and you still throw a tantrum.]
The group chat piled on around this point.
That hard heart of mine shattered bit by bit.