The ride from the hospital should have taken twenty minutes.
It took thirty-five.
George complained the entire way.
Traffic.
Gas prices.
Hospital fees.
The size of the twins’ room.
Ryan’s need for a larger vehicle.
Every complaint eventually arrived at the same solution.
Claire.
“Claire earns good money,” George said. “She can help.”
Ethan looked out the window.
“She isn't helping anymore.”
Nobody heard him.
Or perhaps nobody wanted to.
When they reached the apartment building, George marched ahead.
Then stopped.
Two large suitcases were sitting beside the front door.
Ethan recognized them immediately.
His.
George frowned.
“What are those doing there?”
Ethan didn't answer.
He inserted his key.
It wouldn't turn.
Again.
Nothing.
Patricia shifted impatiently.
“What's wrong?”
“The lock.”
George grabbed the key.
“You're doing it wrong.”
He tried.
Nothing.
Then the door opened from inside.
Claire stood there.
Behind her was a locksmith gathering his tools.
Everyone went silent.
Claire's eyes moved from Ethan to the twins.
Then to Ryan.
Then George.
“Congratulations on the babies,” she said calmly.
Patricia stared at her.
“What is this?”
Claire looked at Ethan.
“You didn't tell them?”
George stepped forward.
“Tell us what?”
Ethan felt the divorce certificate against his chest.
“Claire and I divorced this morning.”
Silence.
Patricia gasped.
Ryan whispered, “What?”
George’s face darkened.
“You divorced my son?”
Claire almost smiled at the wording.
“Yes.”
“Over what?”
Claire looked directly at him.
“You really don't know?”
George pointed toward the apartment.
“Fine. Whatever nonsense you two have going on, move these suitcases. We have newborns standing in the hallway.”
Claire didn't move.
“You aren't coming inside.”
George stared.
“This is my son's home.”
“No. It's mine.”
That was when Ethan noticed something else.
The family photographs were gone.
His parents’ slippers were gone.
Ryan’s boxes stored near the balcony were gone.
Everything belonging to the Bennett family had been carefully removed.
George’s face turned red.
“You can't throw family into the street.”
Claire's expression finally changed.
“Family?”
She looked at Ethan.
“For five years, that word was used whenever someone wanted my money, my apartment, my time, or my silence.”
Then she looked back at George.
“Today it stopped working.”
She closed the door.
George stood speechless.
Ethan picked up his suitcases.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Dad's house.”
George suddenly looked uncomfortable.
But Ethan was too exhausted to notice.
They drove across town.
When they reached George’s small suburban house, Ethan carried one infant carrier inside while Ryan carried the other.
George entered first.
Seconds later, Ethan heard a strange sound.
His father was crying.
Not quietly.
Actually crying.
“Dad?”
George was sitting on the sofa holding his phone.
His hands were shaking.
“She stopped it.”
“Stopped what?”
George looked up.
“Claire.”
Ethan felt cold.
“What did Claire stop?”
“My monthly allowance.”
Ryan frowned.
“What allowance?”
George wiped his face.
“Ten thousand yuan equivalent every month. About fourteen hundred dollars. She transferred it to me for years.”
Ethan stared at him.
Claire had never told him.
George continued.
“And the utility payments. The insurance. Your mother's supplemental medical plan.”
Patricia went pale.
“What?”
George looked at Ethan.
“And there's something else.”
Ethan's stomach tightened.
“What?”
George pointed toward the hallway.
“This house.”
“What about it?”
George swallowed.
“It belongs to Claire.”
Nobody moved.
Ethan thought he had misheard.
George began crying again.
“She called this morning. The agreement that let us stay here is terminated. We have thirty days to leave.”
Ethan stared at his father.
The apartment was gone.
The allowance was gone.
Now his parents’ house wasn't even theirs.
George suddenly grabbed Ethan's arm.
“And she said you're not allowed to stay here under the occupancy agreement either.”
“What?”
“She said everyone has to go!”
The room erupted.
Patricia screamed.
Ryan started demanding explanations.
Lily clutched the twins closer.
But Ethan heard almost nothing.
One thought filled his mind.
For five years, whenever Claire complained about supporting his family, Ethan had accused her of exaggerating.
Now he finally understood.
He had never known how much she was carrying.
And Claire had just put it all down.
---