When my sister-in-law, Jane, was young, she smoked, drank, and got into fights. She spent her days hanging out with bad boys. She’d racked up multiple abortions, never knowing—or caring—who the fathers were. Now that she’s older, she wants to find an honest man to settle down with. Matchmakers introduced her to many, but she’d either complain they were ugly or didn’t have money. Finally, for some reason, she threatened to kill herself if she couldn’t marry my younger brother. My husband, Alex, and my mother-in-law, Mrs. Chen, excitedly raised both hands in approval. When my brother refused, Alex looked at me coldly and threatened, “If your brother doesn’t agree, then our marriage is over. It’s not fair for me to be so happy when my sister has nothing.” My heart turned to ice. “Fine, let’s end it then.” When Jane was young, she lived like she was invincible. She’d always trail behind a pack of rebellious guys. Smoking, drinking, brawling. She wore outlandish clothes, and her hair was dyed in a rainbow of obnoxious colors. But she thought she looked amazing. On quiet, deserted nights, perched behind a bad boy on his motorcycle, amid the deafening roar of the engine, she’d smugly believe she was the coolest woman on the street. Every now and then, she’d come back with a baby bump, her mascara running down her face, claiming she didn’t know who the father was. Back then, Alex and I had been dating for three years, and I’d already started to think of Jane as my own sister. Unable to watch her spiral, I quietly asked Alex to talk some sense into her a few times. I don’t know what Alex said to her. But Jane showed up at my doorstep, cigarette dangling from her lips, baseball bat in hand. She lunged at me, spitting venom: “You fucking bitch, if you ever dare meddle in my business again, I’ll rip out your tongue and make you eat it! Don’t forget, you’re just my brother’s girlfriend. He can’t even control me, so who the hell do you think you are? You’re pathetic.” That afternoon, she brought her cronies and ranted at our doorstep for hours. My parents were livid, practically on their deathbeds from anger. With a sister-in-law like that. My whole family urged me to break up with Alex. After I suggested breaking up, Alex frantically knelt at our doorstep for three days, begging me to reconsider. Eventually, Alex’s mom, Mrs. Chen, *dragged* Jane and *forced her to beg for my forgiveness* on her knees at our door. She promised that such a thing would never happen again. My friends also tried to persuade me to stay with Alex: “Jane’s just an overgrown brat, don’t mind her. Besides, you’re living with Alex, not his sister. As long as Alex treats you well, that’s all that matters.” I thought about it for a long time. In the end, emotion overruled reason, and I decided to give Alex another chance. Jane didn’t like me. And I didn’t like her. Seemed fair enough. Every time Jane and I had a conflict – though it was more accurate to call it Jane’s unilateral provocations – Alex always sided with me, sternly scolding and warning Jane. I thought Alex was decent. His mom, Mrs. Chen, was also good to me. Most families have some kind of in-law drama. Mine just happened to be an immature sister-in-law eight years my junior. Compared to others, I felt relatively lucky. When we reached marriageable age, Alex and I smoothly walked down the aisle. To avoid conflicts with Jane, we bought a house and moved out after the wedding. Unless absolutely necessary, we never stayed with her for more than three days. Life continued peacefully for ten years. In those ten years, Jane didn’t mature one bit. However, the rebellious kids she used to hang out with had all grown up and started their own families. No one was willing to waste time with Jane anymore. She found it boring and decided she wanted to find an honest man to marry. Mrs. Chen and Alex tasked matchmakers with introducing her to many eligible bachelors. But thirty-year-old Jane had incredibly high expectations. She’d either complain they were ugly or that they didn’t make enough money. She kept picking and choosing, refusing to take a good look in the mirror and see who *she* really was. Then she met my younger brother, Daniel, who had just returned after four years studying abroad. She told Mrs. Chen and Alex that she’d fallen in love with him at first sight and would rather die than not marry him. And Alex, who had consistently stood by me for ten years. When it came to his sister’s future. He resolutely took a stand against me.
Truth be told, it was partly my fault. Two weeks ago, for my daughter Lily’s birthday, I invited my parents and my newly returned brother, Daniel, to celebrate. Jane, who usually disdained attending, actually brought a gift for Lily for the first time that day. After the party, Mrs. Chen and Jane came to find me. Mrs. Chen asked me point-blank: “Sarah, does your brother have a girlfriend now?” I was puzzled. When did she start caring about my brother? But I answered honestly: “I don’t know. Daniel just got back; I haven’t asked him about it yet. Why?” Mrs. Chen beamed. She took my hand, a flicker of excitement in her eyes. “Sarah, Jane has finally found someone she likes, you don’t know how happy I am.” Tears welled in Mrs. Chen’s eyes, as if she could now die in peace. Though I cared nothing for Jane’s affairs, out of politeness, I asked: “Who is it?” “Your brother.” Mrs. Chen’s eyes sparkled. Jane looked bashful. “Who?” My eyes widened, convinced my ears were playing tricks on me. Mrs. Chen repeated: “Your brother, Daniel White. Sarah, our families are about to become even closer.” My scalp tingled, and my heart pounded uncontrollably. I asked cautiously: “Daniel, he… agreed?” “Not yet, but I brought Jane here because I want you to help set them up. One is Alex’s sister, the other is your brother. Our families are already so close; it’s perfect!” *Huh!* Precisely because our families were so close, I couldn’t possibly push Daniel into such a mess. Even if Daniel weren’t my biological brother, but just a regular friend, I would never do such a disgusting thing. I managed an awkward laugh and spoke very tactfully. “They might not be a good match. Daniel has a postgraduate degree and has been abroad for several years. He and Jane might not have much in common.” Jane glared at me, a woman in her thirties, still pouting. “What do you mean we don’t have anything in common? Is Daniel an alien or something? I think you just look down on me.” She was right. I *did* look down on her. In terms of education, Daniel has a doctorate, while she didn’t even finish high school. In terms of looks, Daniel is a 6’1” sunny young man, while she smokes and drinks daily, her face sallow, her body bloated. In terms of character, Daniel was light-years ahead of her. But for the sake of family harmony, I didn’t dare say it. I could only awkwardly continue to make excuses. “Daniel is younger than Jane, and boys mature later anyway.” “So what? Age gap romances are trendy now!” Jane declared indignantly, acting as if she already owned my brother. I wanted to cry. I threw my hands up in defeat: “I can’t control Daniel’s affairs, just like your brother can’t control yours. If you want to be with Daniel, figure it out yourself.” Jane rolled her eyes at me. She mumbled a curse under her breath: “Bitch, like I care what you think.” Mrs. Chen awkwardly patted Jane’s back lightly. She reprimanded her, “Stop it, that’s rude.” I looked at the mother and daughter, a cold smile on my face. If Jane Chen ever stepped foot in my family, I’d take *her* last name.
Actually, Jane had met Daniel before. But back then, Daniel hadn’t fully grown into himself. Not only was his face covered in teenage acne, but his body was a bit chunky due to academic stress. Jane and her friends had even mocked him for it. Calling him a toad whose fat jiggled when he walked. Later, Daniel went to college out of town and spent his summers working odd jobs. He only came home for half a month during Christmas. Plus, Jane and I didn’t get along. So they hadn’t seen each other for years. Who would have thought that when they met again, Jane would declare she wanted to marry Daniel? It was truly bizarre. After Mrs. Chen and Jane left, I quickly called Daniel. I told him about Jane’s intentions. Daniel found it amusing, then casually told me: “Sarah, I have a girlfriend. We met when we were studying abroad. We’ve been together for three years, and once my work stabilizes, we plan to get married.” “That’s wonderful!” I was genuinely happy for Daniel. And I breathed a sigh of relief. Jane was an expert at clinging on; she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted. If Daniel were married, she might be a little more intimidated. Daniel’s voice was filled with bubbly happiness. “Mia is great. I’ll bring her to meet you when I have a chance.” “Good, you two should get married as soon as possible.” Somehow, I still felt a sense of unease. Like the sticky feeling of being stalked by a wolf.
Sure enough, a few days later, my brother called for help. “Sarah, please tell Alex to talk some sense into Jane. She’s completely insane. She’s driving me crazy!” It was then that I learned what had happened. After Jane left my house that day, she immediately began her plan to pursue Daniel. First, she got Daniel’s phone number and social media handles from Alex. When Daniel explicitly rejected her dating proposals, she then tracked down his workplace. Every day, she’d pretend to be Daniel’s girlfriend and order afternoon tea and desserts for his colleagues. Daniel finally lost his patience and instructed security to block Jane from entering the company. With no other options, Jane somehow got Mia’s phone number and workplace details. After threatening Mia unsuccessfully, Jane went directly to Mia’s office building and put up banners, claiming Mia was a homewrecker trying to break up her and Daniel. My head throbbed just hearing it. She was truly unhinged. I promised Daniel: “Your brother will be home tonight; I’ll talk to him.” Daniel sounded distraught: “Sarah, if Jane keeps this up, Mia will leave me! My future happiness is in your hands!” I nodded. Though I knew Daniel was partly joking, it was true that Mia would be upset. What young woman wouldn’t be annoyed by another woman relentlessly pursuing her boyfriend? That evening, when Alex got home from work, I told him about Jane’s behavior. I expected Alex to promise to talk some sense into her. Instead, he tried to persuade *me*: “Sarah, why don’t we just help Jane out? You know she’s been wild all these years, but Daniel is steady. They could complement each other. Besides, wouldn’t it be even better for our families to be closer?” “Better my ass!” Furious, I pointed at Alex and yelled: “You know what kind of person your sister is! Daniel has a doctorate, he studied at a prestigious university abroad, he’s young, accomplished, and has a bright future. How blind would he have to be to choose *your sister*—a high school dropout with a history of abortions—over someone as intelligent and promising as himself?” “Sarah!” Alex gritted his teeth. Seeing his ashen face, I knew I’d gone too far. Even if everything I said was true. But for Daniel’s sake, I didn’t regret it. “Alex, your sister and my brother will *never* be a thing. If you truly care about Jane, you should advise her to move on and focus on someone else.” I sighed, speaking very seriously. “Got it.” Alex’s face darkened. He grabbed his jacket and stormed out, slamming the door. He didn’t even bother to eat dinner. I watched his retreating back, feeling a wave of helplessness. I turned to call Lily, who was doing homework in her study, for dinner.
I don’t know when Alex came back. I also don’t know what they talked about that day. All I know is that from the next day on, Alex began a one-sided cold war with me. No matter what I said, he’d respond with indifference. At first, for the sake of family stability, I tried to mend our relationship. But after repeated rejections, I had accumulated a lot of anger myself. I stopped cooking his meals. I stopped washing his clothes. It wasn’t until three months later, when Daniel called to tell me he was getting engaged to Mia, that I had to initiate a conversation with Alex. “Daniel is getting engaged in two days. Get ready to go with me.” “To whom? If it’s not Jane, I’m not going.” He refused me flatly. I bit my lip, and tears of frustration spilled uncontrollably. “Alex, you’re almost forty years old! Can you stop acting like a child? You can’t even control Jane over minor issues, so why are you making *my* life difficult over something as big as Daniel’s relationship and marriage? Daniel is a person, not a puppet. What right do I have to demand he be with someone?” Perhaps seeing me cry. Alex’s icy face finally softened a bit. He pressed his lips together and sighed. “Jane and Daniel are different. My dad passed away when Jane was two, so she grew up in an incomplete family. She’s really pitiful, and it’s understandable that she’s a little headstrong. Daniel, on the other hand, grew up in a happy, healthy family environment. So what if he makes a small sacrifice for his marriage? Besides, Jane has grown up and matured now. It might not be a bad thing for Daniel to marry her.” *Was he serious?* Jane’s misfortune wasn’t Daniel’s fault. Why should Daniel be forced to make sacrifices? I wiped away my tears. I asked him expressionlessly: “Daniel’s engagement. Are you going or not?” He glanced at me. And firmly said: “If it’s not Jane, I won’t go. It’ll just upset her if she finds out.” “Fine.” I nodded, utterly disappointed. Go or don’t go. Who cares? A brother-in-law, that’s all he was. Did he really think he was that important?
On Daniel’s engagement day, Alex still showed up. Halfway through the ceremony. Jane burst through the doors. I looked at Alex; he guiltily lowered his head. Jane was wearing a white wedding dress and elaborate bridal makeup. Mia’s family’s faces turned grim. Mia herself directly questioned me: “Sarah, what is going on?” Jane rushed straight to Daniel, wrapped her arms around his arm. “Daniel, don’t get engaged to her! I knew you first; you can only be mine!” Daniel pulled his arm away, furious: “Are you crazy?!” I suppressed my anger and quickly turned to Alex: “What’s happening? How did Jane find this place? Get her out of here!” Alex ignored my plea, and instead tried to persuade *me*. “You know Jane’s temper. Just let her fight for him a little longer.” “Fight for what, my ass!” I yelled, enraged. Coming to someone’s engagement to “fight for him”—was that something a sane person would do? I stood up and grabbed Jane, trying to pull her out. “Don’t touch me!” Jane struggled free, screaming hysterically: “Sarah, why are you such a bitch? You just can’t stand to see me happy, can you? You’ve been married into our family for over ten years; even a dog would be loyal by now! You’re worse than a dog, always siding with your own family!” Mia’s family’s expressions grew increasingly dark. My brother and parents looked on the verge of tears. I was beside myself with rage. Gritting my teeth, I asked Alex: “Are you going to do something or not?!” Alex awkwardly touched his nose, his gaze shifting away, completely ignoring my plea for help. I sneered. “Fine, if you won’t, I will.” I grabbed Jane by her hair and dragged her out like a dead dog. A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the engagement hall. Alex’s face instantly darkened. He pried my fingers off Jane. Jane seized the opportunity to slip away. She ran to the window. She looked at us with a desperate resolve, half her body leaning out. “Daniel, I’m asking you one last time: are you going to be with me or not?” Daniel’s face was ashen; Mia’s face was as black as ink. Well, who could smile when their engagement party turned into such a disaster? Alex saw Daniel hesitate and turned his gaze to me. “Sarah, it’s come to this. If Daniel rejects Jane again, our marriage is over. It’s not fair for me to have a wife and child when my sister has nothing.” I stared at him, astonished. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and asked him: “Are you serious?” “Yes. If your brother doesn’t agree to be with Jane, then we’re done.” “Alright, then we’re done.”
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