After My Brother's Wife Slapped Me Five Times, the Family Fell Apart

My sister-in-law made three thousand a month, but she was famous for her generosity. She was always treating people to dinner, two or three times a week.

Every time, she brought them to my restaurant. And she never paid.

In three months, she'd run up a hundred and eighty thousand dollars.

The place was bleeding money. I couldn't hold it in anymore, so I mentioned it to her, just once, and asked her to settle the bill.

Instead, in front of everyone in the restaurant, she slapped me across the face. Five times.

"I only brought people here to eat because of your brother, to help your business. You could at least be grateful. Instead you've got the nerve to ask me for money?"

My brother lowered his head and pretended not to see.

My mother opened her mouth, but said nothing.

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and turned to leave.

Two days later, on her birthday, she brought in over a hundred relatives and friends and booked out the whole restaurant. Then she gave me her order:

"Althea Simmons, I've booked the place for my birthday. Every single table gets your most expensive liquor and your best dishes!"

I glanced at the ownership transfer papers I'd just signed, and gave a faint smile.

"Sure."

When Bernice Fox's five slaps landed on my face,

the noisy restaurant went silent in an instant.

Every eye in the room swung toward me.

Only my brother quietly lowered his head, pretending he hadn't seen.

My mother opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, then only sighed and said nothing.

I looked up, at Bernice standing there so pleased with herself, then at my brother and my mother, both silent.

I didn't shout. I didn't make a scene. I just wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and turned and walked out of the restaurant.

Behind me, Bernice was still cursing.

"Little brat, no respect. Trying to collect a bill from your own sister-in-law. You come asking me for money again, and I'll hit you again!"

I didn't look back.

Outside, the cold wind hit my face, and the sting in my cheek grew sharper.

But inside I felt calmer than I ever had.

I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and made a call.

"Hi. I want to sell my restaurant."

"I don't care how low the price is. I only have one condition."

When I was done on the phone, I didn't go back to the restaurant.

I went straight home.

The moment I reached the door, I heard Bernice complaining inside.

"Mom, Jim Simmons, you two really need to get Althea under control."

"I'm her sister-in-law, for God's sake. How could she stand there in public and demand money from me over one meal?"

"If the relatives ever hear about this, they'll laugh us into the ground."

My brother sounded uncomfortable.

"The restaurant is hers, though. She paid for it herself. It's hard for me to say too much."

Bernice's voice shot up at once.

"So what if she paid for it herself?"

"She's your sister. Isn't it only natural for a sister to slave away for her brother? She was born to smooth the road for this family. Whatever's hers should be ours. So I take a little as her sister-in-law. What's wrong with that?"

"And me bringing people to her restaurant is doing her a favor, boosting her business. If she doesn't even get that, what business does she have running a restaurant?"

My mother rushed to smooth it over.

"That's just how Althea is. She's not big-hearted and generous like you, Bernice. There's no need to lower yourself to her level."

Bernice let out a cold snort.

"Well, I'm not going to spoil her!"

"Today you two have to make it crystal clear to her. If she still wants to live in this house, from now on she keeps her head down and behaves, and she doesn't pull any more of this clueless nonsense."

My mother said, all placating,

"Fine. When Althea's back, I'll have her apologize to you."

The next second, I pushed the door open and walked in.

All three of them turned to look at me.

My mother waved me over and got straight to the point.

"Althea, good, you're just in time."

"You were in the wrong today. Family shouldn't quibble over a little food money. Go on and give your sister-in-law a proper apology."

Bernice leaned back against the couch with her arms crossed, smirking, waiting for me to bow my head.

I ignored her, walked straight into my bedroom, pulled open the closet, and started packing my clothes.

My brother followed me in, shut the door behind him, and lowered his voice.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I folded my coat and tucked it into the suitcase, calm.

"Packing. I'm moving out."

His face darkened, and he reached out to press down on my suitcase.

"Althea, can you not be so difficult?"

"It's just an apology. What's the harm in swallowing your pride for once?"

"Bernice was wrong to hit you, sure, but you shouldn't have humiliated her in front of everyone either."

"She's my wife. You can't expect me to get into a fight with her over you."

"Can't you show a little sense and drop that petty, penny-pinching habit of yours?"

My hands paused for just a moment.

Then I looked up at him and said quietly,

"Don't worry. I won't do it again."

With that I folded the last piece of clothing, laid it in the suitcase, zipped it up, and walked out of the bedroom without looking back.

Behind me, my brother started to come after me, but Bernice stopped him.

"Let her go."

"If she's got the guts to walk out, she'd better not come back."

My mother chimed in, just as displeased.

"Jim, let her go. She's just spoiled. A couple of days out on her own to clear her head and she'll realize she was wrong."

After I left home, I checked into a hotel near the restaurant.

I'd barely settled in when my phone rang.

A message.

And when I finished reading it, I finally smiled, satisfied.

For the next two days, I went to the restaurant as usual, managing everything there as though nothing had happened.

I only stepped away now and then to make a few calls and sign a few papers.

As if to freeze me out on purpose, Bernice didn't come by the restaurant those two days.

My brother, who normally couldn't stay away from the place, didn't show either.

But he sent me the occasional text.

"Althea, are you really not coming home?"

"Mom's right. You've just been spoiled rotten."

"If you've got the nerve, then never come back at all."

I didn't answer a single one. I just quietly saw to what I needed to do.

On the third day, right after I signed the last contract, Bernice suddenly walked in.

She had on a new dress, her hair set in big waves, a brand-new bag on her arm, arrogance radiating off every inch of her.

My brother and my mother trailed close behind her, not looking at me.

And behind them came a whole crowd, over a hundred people.

Most of them were relatives, plus Bernice's coworkers and friends.

The moment they were through the door, the whole pack of them started grabbing tables and sitting down as they pleased.

Bernice swaggered up to the front counter and ordered me around.

"Althea, it's my birthday today, and I'm booking out the whole place."

"Bring the most expensive liquor and the best dishes to every single table."

"Australian lobster, abalone, king crab, luxury seafood stew, all of it. And for drinks, top-shelf liquor, nothing cheap."

I lifted my head, watching her strut and preen, and confirmed it with her calmly.

"You're sure you want all these drinks and dishes at every table?"

"Once the order's placed, there are no refunds or exchanges."

Bernice slammed her hand on the counter and shouted at the top of her voice.

"Obviously!"

"When I tell you to serve it, you serve it. Where's all this crap coming from?"

"You asking for another beating?"

Seeing that, her coworkers and friends rushed to flatter her.

"That's our Bernice for you. Even her birthday's got some swagger!"

Among the relatives, some looked excited, others plainly worried.

"Bernice, isn't this too much money? All this fine liquor and food, that's going to cost a fortune."

Bernice just waved a hand, unconcerned.

"This? It's nothing."

"It's just one meal. Eat as much as you want."

"Everything spent here today is on me."

Then she turned her head, eyes vicious, and pushed me along.

"What are you standing there for? Go bring the food already!"

"Waste any more of my time and I'll hit you, you think I won't?"

I looked at that smug, self-satisfied face of hers.

Then I glanced at the restaurant transfer contract I'd just signed, and gave a faint smile.

"All right."

With that, I walked straight to the front door and hung up the sign: "Private Event Today. Closed to the Public."

Then I went to the kitchen and told the head chef and his crew,

"My sister-in-law has booked the whole place today. Every dish goes out exactly the way she wants it. Bring out the Australian lobster, the abalone, the king crab, the seafood stew."

"For drinks, top-shelf liquor only. Load up every table. Don't hold back."

The head chef paused, then lowered his voice.

"Boss, your sister-in-law's not going to pay this time either. If we really do it her way, we'll lose a fortune."

I gave him a faint smile.

"It's fine."

"Just do it."

Seeing how firm I was, he didn't ask anything else. He turned and went to set up the prep.

Soon the kitchen was in full swing, the clatter of woks and the chop of knives rising in waves.

The rich smell of it drifted through the whole restaurant.

Out in the dining hall, meanwhile, everyone was heaping praise on Bernice, my brother, and my mother.

"Bernice, you're really something. Treating everyone every other day. I've never met anyone more generous than you."

"I envy Jim, getting a wife this capable. Walk out with her on your arm and you'd hold your head high."

"Isabel must have done something right in a past life, landing a daughter-in-law as impressive as Bernice. Look at this, throwing a birthday party for over a hundred people, renting out the whole place. Who else could pull off a spread like this?"

Under all the flattery, Bernice's mouth curled up high, her whole face smug.

My brother and my mother just smiled and said nothing, but they couldn't hide the pride and satisfaction in their eyes.

Soon the heavy dishes started coming out.

Australian lobster, braised abalone with sea cucumber, seafood stew, king crab sashimi, every plate exquisitely arranged, clearly worth a small fortune.

The top-shelf liquor came in case after case, the servers setting a bottle on every table.

Bernice's friends stared, wide-eyed, at the expensive food and drink.

"Oh my God, they're really bringing out all this good food and liquor? Bernice, you're incredible."

"Quick, take a picture for social media. Most people never eat like this their whole lives."

"I hereby declare Bernice my god, forever!"

The relatives chimed in with their own flattery.

"Heavens, abalone, king crab, top-shelf liquor. I've only ever seen this stuff on TV. Never thought I'd get to taste it myself in this lifetime."

"People always said if you run with Bernice you eat well and drink well. Turns out it's true."

"So young and already this generous and capable. She's going places, mark my words."

"Jim, Isabel, you two are truly blessed."

My brother and mother beamed so wide they couldn't close their mouths.

Bernice, delighted, stood up with a glass in hand and announced grandly,

"Everyone, eat all you want, drink all you want. If it's not enough, order more."

"Everything's on me today. Don't be shy!"

The moment she finished, the room broke into cheers.

Glasses went up all around as they toasted her.

"Come on, come on, let's all drink to the birthday girl. May she get prettier and richer every single year!"

Bathed in all the blessings and flattery, Bernice felt a satisfaction like never before.

She thumped her chest and declared to the whole crowd,

"From now on, whenever you want to eat out, come to this restaurant. Just drop my name, Bernice Fox, and put it all on my tab. You won't pay a cent."

At that, every face lit up, and they crowded around her with another round of praise.

"Bernice, you're a boss!"

"From now on we're running with Bernice!"

Line after line, until the corners of her mouth were hitched up high.

Riding the endless flattery, Bernice sauntered over to the front counter and taunted me in a low voice.

"Althea, don't you love money? Aren't you the one who counts every penny?"

"Today I'm going to spend this place dry, so you learn what happens when you cross me."

The old me would have felt a headache coming on the second Bernice opened her mouth like that.

But now, I only found it funny.

I looked at her and said, without a ripple in my voice,

"Suit yourself."

When I didn't fly into the rage she'd been counting on, Bernice frowned, and something displeased flickered in her eyes.

The next moment she glanced at the bill on the table, and a sly look crossed her face.

"This whole meal only came to three hundred grand?"

"No wonder you can sit there so calm. Looks like I just haven't spent enough of your money yet."

With that she turned to a nearby server and called out loudly,

"Bring me the menu. I'm ordering more."

The server shot me a questioning look.

I nodded.

Only then did she hand the menu to Bernice.

Bernice flipped through it, taking her sweet time.

"Premium delicacy soup. Another bowl for everyone."

"Premium seafood delicacy. One serving each."

"Caviar. However much you've got, bring it all out."

She finished ordering, tossed the menu down on the table, and grinned at me, daring me.

"Well? Does it hurt yet?"

I tipped up one corner of my mouth and shook my head.

"Not a bit."

Bernice's face froze, sour all over.

"Then bring out that bluefin tuna sashimi too. Two pounds per table."

She swept a look around the relatives and friends packed into the room, lifted her chin, and added,

"And everyone here takes home an Australian lobster and a king crab each, plus a bottle of top-shelf liquor. Call it a midnight snack."

The whole room went off again.

"Wow! Bernice, you're too generous!"

"Not only does everyone get to eat like kings, we each get a doggy bag too. Is this what real money looks like?"

Watching this, my brother finally couldn't take it. He walked up to Bernice and lowered his voice.

"Bernice, that's enough. Keep ordering and the place will be picked clean."

Bernice threw me a taunting glance and sneered.

"Picking every expensive thing in here clean is exactly the point. That's the only way certain people learn their lesson."

My mother came over too, smoothing things for Bernice.

"Althea, your sister-in-law is only doing this for your own good."

"You'd better learn from it. Stop nickel-and-diming everyone the way you do."

Seeing even my mother take her side, the smug look on Bernice's face swelled thicker.

She looked down her nose at me, her eyes full of the pleasure of revenge.

I smiled and said nothing.

It was the server who looked at me, uneasy, and asked in a low voice,

"Miss Simmons, this order, do you really want me to put it in?"

I looked at Bernice, then at my mother, and nodded.

"Put it in."

"Whatever she orders, we bring out."

Seeing me place the order so meekly, Bernice looked like she'd won a war. She smiled down at me, satisfied.

"At least you know what's good for you."

"If you'd been this obedient earlier, you wouldn't have caught a beating."

With that she went back to her seat, pleased with herself, and kept right on eating and drinking.

Soon the server followed the orders, carrying out the premium delicacy soup, the premium seafood delicacy, and the caviar Bernice had ordered, plate after plate.

Then came dozens of packed-up Australian lobsters, king crabs, and bottles of top-shelf liquor, set quietly beside every guest.

At the sight of it, all the friends and relatives couldn't help gushing again.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable, this meal is beyond lavish!"

Bernice waved it off.

"This is nothing. What matters is that everyone eats and drinks well. It's just a little food money, no need to dwell on it."

I glanced at the bill.

Their total had climbed from three hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand.

With every expensive ingredient and bottle in the place ordered clean, Bernice was finally satisfied.

Stuffed and content, she leaned back in her chair and let out a burp.

Then she stood, walked up to me, and said, cocky as ever,

"Althea Simmons, this meal ought to be enough to teach you a lesson, don't you think?"

"Remember it. From now on, don't be so petty."

"Or I've got plenty of ways to deal with you!"

With that she led the whole crowd toward the front door.

Just then a group of people suddenly blocked the doorway, cutting Bernice off, and the one in front didn't mince words.

"Your bill at my restaurant today comes to eight hundred thousand. Pay up."