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The only one who said no
Does an aunt’s love have limits?
Scarlett observed her nephew Albert engaged in playful activity in the garden from her living room window. The eight-month-old was crawling leisurely, completely unaware of the chaos brewing around him. His golden locks glimmered in the morning light, and each time she thought of his cherubic smile, her heart felt a tight squeeze.
“The accusations of selfishness still ring in my ears,” she recalled her mother-in-law, Mrs. Justine, stating firmly during their last family gathering.
At 34, with two children of her own, Scarlett had crafted her life with her family at its core. She opted for the role of a full-time mother, fully committing to nurturing her kids. Their home represented her refuge, a haven filled with tranquility and affection that she protected diligently.
The situation changed when Hilary, her sister-in-law, experienced a breakup.
“You simply don’t see it,” Hilary had exclaimed during one of her recent episodes. “You have it all: a spouse, a home, time to yourself. I’m left to face this on my own!”
The issue wasn’t her beloved little Albert; Scarlett cherished him just like her other nephews. The real problem lay with Hilary and her perpetual crises, her demands, and her emotional explosions that…