Chapter 4

Hearing these words, Mrs. Harrington's face showed not a trace of fear. Instead, she displayed a mocking sneer as she scoffed.

"Have you lost your mind? A mere cleaning man dares to order me around?"

"This is my daughter-in-law's house. If anyone's going to get out, it's you!"

"Oh, and before you leave, let me check you. I wouldn't want you stealing anything from my apartment!"

Her face wore the same jeering expression as Alec's, and her shameless attitude proved she was indeed his mother.

I was so furious I felt my chest might explode. I glared at Melody and said.

"Don't you have anything to say? Or are you just going to watch this show until the end?"

Melody looked a bit guilty as she walked up to me.

Just when I thought she was going to explain, I saw a vicious look cross her face, and she slapped me hard across the cheek.

"Shut up. Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?"

"You're fired. Get out now!"

Mrs. Harrington, hearing this, quickly added, "Remember to check him before she leaves."

I was utterly speechless and furious at the shameless attitude of all three of them.

Feeling the stinging pain on my face, I pulled out my phone and said with a grim expression.

"Fine, you're all in this together. Then I guess I'll just call the police, shall I? Look at who's being kicked out!"

But Mrs. Harrington became furious, stepping forward to snatch my phone and smashing it on the ground.

"You have the nerve to call the police? I'm already being generous by not reporting you for trespassing."

As she spoke, she jumped up and stomped on my phone several times with vicious force.

The phone was crushed to pieces, and a photo slipped out from the separated phone case.

It was the only remaining picture of me with my late grandmother, which I always kept close to my heart.

I could disregard the phone, but my grandmother was the one who raised me.

Seeing the footprints on the photo and the growing cracks, my eyes turned red with rage, almost bursting from their sockets.

I shouted, "Get out!" and pushed Mrs. Harrington away with a sweep of my hand.

Just as I managed to protect the photo in my hand for a second, Alec, who had been watching from the side, viciously kicked me.

"A mere janitor dares to hit my mom? I'll kill you!"

He knew my true identity but still called me a janitor.

It was clearly an insult, meant to provoke me.

I could no longer contain the anger surging within me. After safely tucking away the photo, I got up, ready to return his punch.

But Melody suddenly stood in front of him, coldly commanding:

"Blaine, don't you dare! Apologize right now!" She knew full well how I felt about my grandmother, yet she still wanted me to apologize?

"In your dreams!"

Perhaps my unyielding attitude finally pushed Melody over the edge.

She suddenly grabbed the ashtray from the coffee table and smashed it violently against my head.

The pain made me lose consciousness instantly, my mind going completely blank.

When I came to, I had already fallen to the floor, with blood trickling from my head.

Melody finally panicked, helping me up and wanting to rush to the hospital.

Fighting off intense dizziness, I let the blood slide down my face as I staggered and pushed her away.

"I don't need your help!"

Then, gritting my teeth, I uttered the words I'd been holding back for so long.

"Melody, it's over between us. Let's get a divorce!"

"And I'm not letting this go. You, and Alec and his mother - I'll see you all in court!"