He considered himself \u201cthe king of the castle.\u201d The truth was that he did pay all the bills while we were growing up, but that didn\u2019t give him the right to treat my mother as less worthy than him.\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n My brother, Anthony, lived in another state, while I, Chloe, and Lily visited mom frequently.\n\n\n\n But every visit was defeating. We would witness her becoming a shadow of the woman she once was, and it was all because of the constant humiliation.\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n On the day of her birthday, we decided it was enough.\n\n\n\n We all gathered at mom\u2019s place, with perfectly wrapped gifts, but it was Jeff\u2019s gift that left us in complete shock.\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n In the days preceding the birthday, he bragged about getting her the ideal present, saying, \u201cThis one\u2019s going to knock her socks off,\u201d while laughing uncontrolably.\n\n\n\n And finally, the present was there, and it represented the ultimate act of humiliation.\n\n\n\n As he handed her the huge, beautifully wrapped package with ribbon on it, my sisters and I could sense it would be something that would make us mad, and we were right.\n\n\n\n My mom unwrapped it and saw toilet paper. 12-pack. Four-ply. Jumbo rolls.\n\n\n\n Jeff started laughing and said, \u201cIsn\u2019t this the perfect gift. Is as soft as you are, and the four-ply represents your four kids.\u201d\n\n\n\n My mom could hardly contain her tears from rolling down her face. My sisters and I were fuming, but didn\u2019t say anything. Instead, we plotted revenge, as perfect as Jeff believed that gift had been.\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n The following day, we talked to mom and told her it was about time she leaves that cruel man who only took advantage of her and treated her like a servant. He never respected her, and honestly, it looked like he never loved her.\n\n\n\n Chloe and I called Jeff a few days latter and invited him over to his favorite Chinese restaurant.\n\n\n\n The first thing he said when he entered the place was that it was nice someone paying for him for a change.\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n He ordered his usual, but both Chloe and I knew our plan would still work.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen are your mom and Lily getting here?\u201d he kept asking, and we assured him over and over again that they were on their way.\n\n\n\n Instead, Lily was helping mom pack all of her belongings while a huge truck waited in front of the house. She was about to take everything she managed to buy for Jeff with her hard saved money, including his recliner.\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n In the meantime, Chloe and I ordered Szechuan beef, Kung Pao chicken, and the spiciest mapo tofu on the menu. Each of the dishes looked like a masterpiece, garnished with herbs and spices that could even make a grown man cry.\n\n\n\n \u201cServe yourself, Jeff,\u201d I said, \u201cif you can handle spicy food.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cGirls, I didn\u2019t know we would be sharing,\u201d he said with a grin of satisfaction on his face. And yes, we knew he would want to show off and pretend he could handle the hot chillies. \u201cBe careful, it\u2019s hot,\u201d Chloe said. \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous,\u201d Jeff answered and took a bite of the beef.\n\n\n\n His face turned red in an instant, but trying to prove his manliness, he continued eating the extremely spicy food.\n\n\n\n Once we were done, we suggested heading home and check why Lily and mom didn\u2019t come. \u201cMaybe something went wrong,\u201d I suggested, pretending to be worried.\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n The house was dark. Mom\u2019s belongings were already transported to Lily\u2019s place while she and Lily waited for us in the garage.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on,\u201d Jeff asked once he turned the lights on. \u201cWhere\u2019s my recliner?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, Jeff, that reclined was mom\u2019s, she bought it for you, and now it\u2019s gone with the rest of her belongings,\u201d I said.\n\n\n\n
She was afraid, but we assured her we were there for her.\n\n\n\n
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