Mindy immediately stopped Ursula from paying. Max argued that Ursula had used their guest room, electricity, and food for an entire month. Instead of continuing the argument, Mindy went upstairs and returned with Emma’s hospital statement, her payment agreement, and a notebook. She reminded Max that when she asked for help with the $2,400 bill from giving birth to their daughter, he had called it her responsibility because her name was on it.”’

Then Mindy placed another calculation beside Max’s invoice. She had estimated what a month of childcare, cooking, laundry, and household assistance would have cost if they had hired someone. Max’s face went pale when he saw the amount. He angrily asked whether she expected him to pay Ursula that much. Mindy calmly explained that it wasn’t a bill. Ursula had never requested payment; the calculation simply showed the value of everything Max had dismissed as free labor. Mindy folded his invoice and handed it back. “She’s not paying you.” Max finally stopped arguing. But after Ursula’s taxi disappeared, Mindy returned inside and discovered their confrontation was far from finished.

Click continue reading below