The Hidden Billionaire Mom
I've spent my whole life revolving around my family. My husband, Jason Zimmerman, is an honest, hardworking man, and my son, Henry Zimmerman, has always been my greatest pride.
That afternoon, Henry suddenly burst through the door, waving a lottery ticket excitedly, his voice trembling, "Mom! Dad! I won! I won five million dollars!"
The spatula in my hand clattered to the floor, and my mind went completely blank.
Five million dollars—for a family like ours, that's practically an astronomical sum.
Jason rubbed his hands together, grinning foolishly: "Great! Great! Our son's really got potential!"
In the days that followed, the house buzzed with excitement.
Henry took his daughter-in-law Lucy to look at houses, and within a few days, they settled on a 120-square-meter three-bedroom apartment. The deed was in both Henry and Lucy's names.
I felt a little uneasy about it at first, but then I thought, the kids are married—putting the house in their names is normal. Isn't that what parents do, after all? For their children?
Before long, the family added three new cars.
Henry Zimmerman drove a black luxury car himself; a silver luxury car was given to Jason Zimmerman; and a red luxury car was said to be for Lucy Donald's dad.
Seeing the brand-new cars parked downstairs, the neighbors came to gawk, their words full of envy.
Jason sat inside his luxury car, his smile never fading, telling everyone, "My son is so devoted — he won the lottery and the first thing he did was buy me a car."
I smiled along, but inside, I always felt empty.
Later, Henry Zimmerman bought designer handbags for Lucy Donald and her mother.
The two bags together cost almost one hundred thousand dollars.
That day, Linda Watson came over and deliberately placed the bags where they could be seen easily. While sipping tea, she touched the bags and said, "Ah, Henry's so thoughtful, buying such expensive bags. I almost feel bad using them."
Lucy chimed in from the side, "Exactly, Mom. My bag's the same—when I'm out shopping, so many people stare at it."
I sat quietly beside them, clutching my sleeve, saying nothing.
That evening, Henry gave me a bank card, saying there was three thousand dollars inside.
"Mom, you don't really have much of a social life, and you don't need those flashy things. Giving you money is the most practical—you can buy whatever you want."
I took the bank card, my fingers growing cold.
Three thousand dollars—compared to those three luxury cars, two designer handbags, and that house with our names on the deed, three thousand felt like a joke.
I looked at my son's confident face, wanting to say something, but the words got caught in my throat.
Maybe he really did think I didn't need those things, I told myself to feel better.
Ever since Henry Zimmerman won the lottery, the atmosphere at home has changed.
Before, Lucy Donald would occasionally help me wash the dishes or sweep the floor, but now she dresses up every day, either going out shopping or hanging out with Linda Watson, leaving all the housework to me.
What bothers me even more is that I can clearly feel my status in this family is far below Linda Watson's.
On the weekend, Henry Zimmerman invited both families out for dinner.
At the dinner table, Henry kept serving food to Linda Watson, saying, "Mom, eat more of this; it's good for your health."
He also took out an elegant jewelry box and handed it to Linda Watson. "Mom, I specially bought this jade bracelet for you. Have a look and see if you like it."
Linda Watson opened the box, her eyes shining. She picked up the jade bracelet and tried it on her wrist. "Wow, this jade bracelet is really beautiful. Henry is so thoughtful."
Lucy Donald smiled and said, "Mom, I've told you before, Henry is the most devoted to you."
I sat nearby, watching the three of them so happily together, feeling like an outsider.
During dinner, Jason kept saying, "Henry is such a good kid, truly filial — he treats his mother-in-law better than his own mom."
After hearing that, I felt even worse inside.
After dinner, Linda Watson grabbed my arm and deliberately swung her bag and jade bracelet in front of me. "Rachel, look how devoted Henry is—buying me a bag and a jade bracelet. I almost feel embarrassed."
Lucy Donald chimed in from the side, "Mom, if you like, Henry can buy you more stuff in the future."
"Unlike my mother-in-law, who just gave three thousand dollars and waved off."
Hearing that, I trembled with anger but didn't know what to say.
Back at home, I sat alone on the sofa, feeling more and more wronged the more I thought about it.
All my life, I've scrimped and saved, giving the best to my son.
When he was little and sick, I stayed up all night taking care of him.
When he went to college, Jason and I tightened our belts to scrape together his tuition and living expenses.
When he got married, we emptied our savings to help him pay the down payment on the wedding house.
But now, he wins five million dollars and only gives me three thousand dollars.
Meanwhile, to his mother-in-law, he buys cars, designer handbags, jade bracelets—one expensive gift after another.
Only then did I realize that, in my son's heart, my place is so low.
I started to rethink my place in this family.
For all these years, I gave up my job and hobbies for this family, spending every day running around the stove, my husband, and my son.
I believed my efforts would earn their appreciation and respect, but in the end, all I got was three thousand dollars and a "not have a social life" remark.
The frustration inside me rose like a tide, little by little.
That afternoon, I was at the market buying groceries when my phone suddenly rang — it was Henry Zimmerman.
I thought something was wrong, so I quickly picked up and said, "Hello, Henry, what's going on?"
On the other end of the phone, Henry Zimmerman sounded a bit impatient: "Mom, please transfer the three thousand dollars I gave you back to me."
I was momentarily stunned, thinking I'd misheard him: "Henry, what did you say? Transfer it back? Why?"
"Lucy said she has her eye on a new handbag but is short three thousand dollars. Just transfer the money back to her for now." Henry's tone was matter-of-fact.
I held the phone with trembling fingers: "That three thousand dollars—you gave it to me..."
"I know I gave it to you, but Lucy needs it now. You're not using it anyway, so what's the big deal if she uses it first?" Henry Zimmerman's voice grew increasingly impatient.
"Hurry up and transfer it back; don't cause any delays."
Standing amid the noisy crowd at the market, I felt as if my heart had been soaked in icy water, chilling me to the bone.
It turned out that, in his eyes, I wasn't even worth three thousand dollars.
He could buy mother-in-law a bag worth tens of thousands, get father-in-law a car worth hundreds of thousands, yet he had to take back the three thousand dollars he gave me just to buy a bag for his wife.
At that moment, I was completely heartbroken.
All these years of my efforts and sacrifices meant nothing to him.
I took a deep breath, holding back tears, and said over the phone, "Henry, I've already spent the three thousand dollars, so there's no way to transfer it back."
"Spent it? How did you manage to spend it so fast? What did you buy?" Henry's voice was filled with doubt and displeasure.
"I bought some daily necessities and paid the utility bills." I said calmly, but inside, it felt like my heart was being cut to pieces.
"You..." Henry was about to say something else, but I hung up the phone immediately.
Once I got home, I locked myself in my room, and the tears I had been holding back finally spilled out.
I started thinking about the old days.
Back then, we were poor. When Henry wanted to eat meat, I'd save my portion for him.
If he wanted new clothes, I'd patch up my own and save the money to buy his.
During his college entrance exams, I got up early and stayed up late making nutritious meals and studying with him.
For him, I gave up chances to work out of town and even gave up the dance I loved.
For him, I put up with Jason's bad temper and silently held the family together.
I thought that once he grew up, once he made something of himself, he would understand how hard I struggled and would be filial to me.
But now it turns out I was wrong—so terribly wrong.
I wiped away my tears and made a decision deep in my heart.
I can't keep putting up with this anymore—I'm going to live for myself from now on.
There's one more thing I haven't told anyone.
Just one month before Henry Zimmerman won five million on the lottery, I bought a ticket too—and I won fifty million.
At first, I couldn't believe it; I kept checking over and over before I was sure it was real.
I had planned to tell my family at the right moment, but now, it seems there's no point.
This money is my hope for the future, my capital to change my life.
I won't sacrifice my own happiness anymore for a family that doesn't cherish me.
Early the next morning, I went to the bank.
Before, my salary card was always kept by Lucy Donald. She said she was holding it for me, and I didn't think twice about it.
Looking back, I was so foolish.
I reported my card as lost at the bank and then got a new one issued.
The staff told me that every month, a sum of money from my salary card had been regularly transferred to Lucy Donald's account for over three years.
I did the math: over these past three years, Lucy Donald has transferred more than fifty thousand dollars from me.
No wonder she usually spends money so freely—turns out I was partly to blame.
The fire inside me grew even hotter, but it also made me more determined to leave this family.
After replacing my salary card, I went back to the mall.
I walked up to the designer handbag counter, pointed at the bag Lucy Donald had, and told the sales assistant, "Give me one exactly like this."
The sales assistant packed it up for me warmly and even praised my good taste.
I paid, walked out of the mall with the bag, feeling a strange mix of pain and relief.
After that, I went to the car dealership.
I picked out a luxury car even more high-end than Henry Zimmerman's and paid the full amount upfront, asking them to handle the paperwork as soon as possible.
The staff at the dealership were all surprised; they probably didn't expect an ordinary old lady like me to buy such a fancy car so effortlessly.
I didn't care what they thought. I just knew I wanted to do whatever I pleased, without having to worry about anyone's attitude anymore.
Back home, I placed the designer handbag on the coffee table and put the car keys right beside it.
Before long, Henry Zimmerman and Lucy Donald returned.
As soon as Lucy Donald walked in, she spotted the bag on the coffee table, her eyes lighting up: "Mom, that bag... isn't it the one I have? How come you bought one too?"
Henry Zimmerman also noticed the bag and keys, frowned, and asked, "Mom, what's going on with the bag and the car? Where did you get the money to buy these?"
I sat on the sofa, took a sip from my teacup, and said calmly, "It's my own money. If I want to buy something, I just buy it."
"Your own money? Your monthly salary is barely a few thousand—how could you possibly afford such an expensive bag and car?" Lucy Donald questioned, her voice full of dissatisfaction.
"It's my salary card—I can use it however I want." I looked at Lucy.
"Besides, you've transferred over fifty thousand dollars from my salary card these past few years. Isn't it time you paid me back?"
Lucy's face went pale. "I... I was just keeping it safe for you..."
"Keeping it safe? Is that how you keep money safe? By transferring my money into your own account?" I cut her off, speaking sternly.
"You have to pay me that money back."
Henry became anxious too: "Mom, what are you doing? We're family—there's no need to be so petty. Lucy only wants what's best for us."
"Wants what's best for us?" I sneered, "She takes my money to buy designer handbags and makeup—is that really for us?"
"You buy your mother-in-law bags worth tens of thousands, your father-in-law cars worth hundreds of thousands, and I get three thousand dollars—then you want it back? And this is for us?"
Henry Zimmerman was left speechless by my words, his face turning red then pale.
Lucy Donald was so furious she was stomping her feet. "Mom! How can you say that? What's wrong with Henry being devoted to my parents? Is being filial a crime? You're just jealous!"
"Jealous?" I stood up and looked at them. "I just feel heartbroken."
"I've raised you for decades, and in the end, I'm not even as important as your mother-in-law. I can't stay in this family anymore."
After saying that, I turned and walked into the room, closing the door and shutting out their arguing voices.
I know that from this moment on, the conflicts in this family have completely escalated.
But I don't regret it—I'm going to fight for the happiness I deserve.
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