A wave of indignation washed over Anna. “Ethan, are you serious? We just paid off the debt for her new television last month.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do? She’s my mother!” he snapped.

“I know,” Anna retorted, her voice rising despite her best efforts. “I know that she’s used to living off other people, and I know that you enable her.”

“You don’t understand me at all!” Ethan exploded. “I’m doing this for the family!”

“Doing this for the family?” Anna repeated, the bitterness sharp on her tongue. “You mean shifting all of your problems onto my shoulders? I work too, Ethan. I’m tired of the constant debt, tired of your irresponsibility.”