All Chapters of My Parents Chose the Caregiver Over Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I decided to make an early return home for the long weekend to surprise my parents, but when I got up, I realized my keys could not unlock the door. I tried multiple times again, but the lock refused to budge, and that was when it dawned on me that the locks to the house had been changed.Left with no other choice, I called my mother's phone. It rang for quite a while before she finally picked up, and I could hear noises in the background that sounded like she was on a busy street. She said over the phone, "Hello? Charlie? Why are you calling me?" "I'm home, Mom. I'm right outside the door, and I can't get in. Why did you change the locks?" It took a few seconds for my mother to answer, "Oh, you're home. Your dad and I are out shopping with Harry. Wait for us outside the door. We'll be home soon." Before I could say anything, she hung up. I stood at the staircase with my luggage and waited for an hour before I finally heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I looked up to se

My father's face fell. "But you don't even come home for Christmas. Is that acceptable? That's the time when our family should be together. What's the point of giving us money when your mother and I have enough money from our pensions? We don't need your money.""Don't be mad, Harold." Harry quickly went to my father and gently tugged on his arm. He smiled gently, "It's not easy for Charlie to be working in the capital on his own. He's in higher management now, and it's only normal that he can't make much time. I'm sure he misses both of you a lot."However, my father only got angrier after hearing Harry's words. "What's so great about being in higher management? He's a man, and he needs to take care of his family sooner or later. It doesn't matter how high he climbs up the career ladder. He would still need to take care of his family in the end."My mother agreed. "You're not getting any younger, Charlie. It's time you considered getting married. My colleague's daughter is about th

After the gathering, we decided to continue the event by adjourning to the restaurant the family had booked earlier. While we were seated around the table, my mother said, "Now that everyone has gathered, Harold and I have something to announce."My father continued the announcement by looking at everyone and saying, "We're planning to take Harry in as our godson."Everyone went silent at his announcement, and our relatives started looking at each other. My mother said, "Harry has always been a considerate child. He has been taking very good care of us by doing the laundry, cooking, and serving us drinks, and he's closer to us than our own son."Our relatives turned to look at me while I gripped my fork and stayed silent.My father glanced at me, and his tone turned grim. "Harry is nothing like someone we know who never shows up throughout the year, and if he did, all he talks about is money and never shows us any concern. He refuses to resign and come home to take care of us, an

Harry also sent me a text: [Charlie, don't be mad at Harold and Sandra, and don't turn your back on them. They're already quite old, and they can't take it if you anger them this way.]All of those texts were just annoying and disgusting to me. I blocked all their numbers on my phone and flung it to the side, not willing to see news about them anymore. I turned to look out the window. It had a view of the city lights, flashing brightly in the night, and the roads shone bright with the heavy traffic. I could feel the gentle gust of the night breeze from the window, which was cooling to the skin.I gave a long exhale, and I could feel the heavy burden on my shoulders melt away. It felt so good.For years, I had lived under the restrictions and binds of my family, who constantly blackmailed me morally, and I did everything I could to make them happy. Yet, they have never once approved of anything I did. Now that we had finally cut off ties, it felt like a sweet release.When I arriv

It was not long before my mother wanted to put on her gold bracelet to visit our relatives, but could not find it, even after ransacking her cupboard for it. After some thought, she realized that Harry was the only one who had gone through her cupboard, and my parents immediately understood what had transpired, so they confronted him."Were you the one who took Sandra's gold bracelet, Harry?" My father trembled with anger as he pointed at Harry with a grim look. His eyes were filled with fury and disappointment. He had never thought that the godson he trusted would steal from them.Harry looked nonchalant as his hands were placed on his waist while he denied it, "What gold bracelet? I don't know anything about it! Stop accusing me of things I didn't do. I never took anything for you. You must have misplaced it or lost it.""There are only three of us in this house. Who else would take it if it wasn't you?" My mother started to tear up as she choked back a sob. "We've always treate