**Left with Nothing but Regret**
*”How can you even say that? Hes a living, breathing person! Your husbands own brother!”*
*”And Ill say it againId rather burn that money than give it to him! At least that way, itll do some good. If he wont take care of himself, why should I?”* Lily, the younger daughter-in-law, crossed her arms with a defiant pout.
Margaret, her mother-in-law, was practically choking on indignation. Andrew, her youngest son, rubbed his temples with a heavy sigh. He was just as shocked, though he hid it wellcalm and logical as ever, never one to panic.
*”Lily, thats no way to behave! Lifes a long road. Today you help him, tomorrow he might help you,”* Margaret pleaded, baffled at having to explain something so simple to a grown woman.
*”Oh, please! Him? That glutton? Hes up to his ears in debt!”*
*”Not everythings about money, dear,”* Margaret sighed. *”If you love Andrew, at least show his brother some respect. Im not asking you to nurse him in hospital!”*
*”Margaret, with all due respect, weve got our own plans,”* Lily replied coolly. *”Were saving for our daughters future. Unlike Simon, she actually has a shot at turning out decent.”*
Margarets cheeks burned. The way Lily spoke about her eldest son, youd think he was dirt under her manicured nails. But that wasnt true at all.
Simon might not have been a high-flyer, but he was a good family manhardworking, devoted to his wife and son, never strayed. Just an ordinary bloke, one of thousands.
Andrew, on the other hand, was ambitious. From childhood, hed dreamed of standing out from the crowd and carving out a cosy spot for himself. Hed chosen dentistry not for passion, but for the moneyand sure enough, hed done well for himself. Hard work, odd patients, but a comfortable life.
Simon wasnt exactly rolling in it either, though. He had a car (on finance) and a flat (inherited from his gran), but also a weakness for junk foodcrisps, takeaways, mayo on everything. He skipped breakfast, made up for it at dinner, and spent weekends planted on the sofa. Not exactly dire, but the extra weight was undeniable.
*”Simon, love, maybe swap the chips for a salad now and then,”* Margaret would chide.
Still, she hadnt worried muchuntil he landed in hospital with heart trouble. Turned out, he had a whole bouquet of health issues.
*”Youll need a diet. Possibly for life,”* the doctor warned.
Simon didnt listen. At first, he half-heartedly tried, then gave up entirely. Missed follow-ups, abandoned treatment. If he felt rubbish, he soldiered on.
*”Sarah, cant you drag him back to the doctor? Hell run himself into the ground,”* Margaret begged.
*”Ive tried! Stubborn as a mule. Ive nagged him about the diet till Im blue in the face. I bin the mayo, he buys more. Says hell stop eating at home if I force-feed him rabbit food,”* Sarah sighed.
Everyone knew Simon wouldnt change unless he wanted to. But he didnt. And honestly, how many people were like that? Putting things off till its almost too late?
But Lily? She didnt just judge Simonshe seemed to despise him.
*”I dont get why you all fuss over him. Let him dig his own grave,”* she sniffed once, while Margaret and Andrew discussed him.
Margaret told herself Lily was just strong-willed, that tough love worked sometimes. But deep down, she knew the truthLily was just cold and selfish.
It showed in everything. Lily never shared, never lifted a finger. If Margaret asked for help, Lily had an excusetoo busy, promised her mum, not feeling well. Shed never lifted a spade at Margarets allotment but never missed a barbecue. When it came to babysitting, she called Margaret before her own mother.
For years, Margaret bit her tongue. Not her circus, not her monkeys. But now? She was starting to worry about Andrew too.
A few days ago, Simon had another scare. Needed surgery. Doctors warned recovery would be long. For once, he seemed scaredbarely eating, brooding. Margaret cracked and called Sarah.
*”Sarah, how are you holding up? Simon wont tell me anything.”*
*”Oh, Margaret Im terrified,”* Sarah admitted. *”Were barely scraping by as it is, and now tests, meds, surgery You know what the NHS is like.”*
*”Dont fret, love. Well sort the money. Hes family. Well manage.”*
*”If you can help, Ill owe you everything.”*
Margaret felt a weight lift. Money was the least of her worries. Shed assumed Andrew and Lily would chip inshed raised her boys to stick together.
What she *hadnt* expected was Lily digging her heels in. Especially since Lily lived off Andrews earnings, calling herself a “homemaker” while actually just living her best lifegym classes, lunches out, new outfits every week.
*”Your daughters future”* Margaret repeated slowly. *”Do you realise Simon might not *have* a future if we turn away now?”*
Lilys lips thinned. *”He stuffed his face for yearswhy should I pay for it? Hes a grown man; let him sort himself out!”* With that, she flounced out.
*”Andrew, Im waiting in the car.”*
Andrew didnt follow. He stared at the table, fists clenched. Margaret looked away.
The silence was thick enough to slice. Something broke in both of them. After five minutes, Andrew picked up his phone.
*”Andrew I never interfere, but Today she refused to help your brotherwith *your* money. What if its you next?”*
*”I know, Mum. Dont worryIll help Simon. But Lily? Im not sure I want to stay married to someone like that.”*
That day, Andrew sent Lily homenot to their house, but to her parents. She screeched, threatened divorce, called him a “mummys boy.” He didnt budge.
He filed first. Lily waited for him to crawl back. He didnt. Then she threatened to take their daughter.
*”Ill take her, and youll never see her again!”*
*”Lily, dont make me laugh. You havent asked about her once since we split,”* Andrew snorted.
Still, they settled. Lily demanded half his assets (most of which shed had no hand in), but they settled on the car. Andrew handed it over just to be rid of her.
Margaret never saw Lily again. Judging by her socials, shed gone full man-hater, swapped fancy dinners for McDonalds, and ditched the fake lashes.
In shortshe got greedy and ended up with nothing.
*”Any regrets?”* Margaret asked Andrew once.
*”None. If helping my brother was a crime to her, we were never right for each other.”*
Andrew moved onbusy with work, raising his daughter, occasionally asking Margaret for help. Thankfully, Emily was old enough to manage.
As for Simon? The surgery went well. He took his second chance seriouslystuck to the diet, even started evening walks with Sarah. Their family mightve shrunk, but it was stronger than ever.
