Chapter 3 Leave

I was stunned and held my cheek. When I snapped out of it, I wanted an explanation, but Lorelei turned around and shielded them. "He didn't mean it! He just has a short temper!"

Chris stood behind him, still going on, "Don't stop us! Men like him need to be taught a lesson!"

Chris' father jabbed a finger at me. "Yeah! If you actually know her, she'd have invited you to dinner! I've seen a lot of people like you!"

He charged at me. Lorelei stopped me but let those two do whatever they wanted. Only my mother shielded me. I looked away for one second, and Chris' father slapped my mother.

Everything went silent. My mother didn't fly into a rage. Instead, she wiped the blood off her lips, then she smiled at Lorelei. "It's alright. It's a misunderstanding. We get that he has a short temper."

She was still holding me tightly, worried I might start a big fight over her.

She always said, "Lorelei's great. She found her footing herself and is a leading physician in a top hospital at her age. You found a great wife. I couldn't give you a good life, but I found you a good partner. As long as you're okay, I can let everything else slide."

That was why she kept tolerating and enduring the mistreatment. Even when she saw Lorelei tossing the food she carried a thousand miles into the bin, she waved it down.

When she realized Lorelei refused to save up for a house, she handed me her savings and said she'd saved up enough for my house.

Even when Lorelei didn't come home with me for the holidays, she cooked up an excuse for her. "She's busy all year, and this is when she gets some time off. Coming back and forth is tiring. Put yourself in her shoes."

Our understanding ended up with nothing but insults and slaps.

Lorelei acted like she just snapped out of it, and she held my hand. "Calm down, Michael. I'll apologize in his place. He's just worried about me."

I did nothing. I hit no one, nor did I yell at anyone, but this woman wanted me to calm down. Then, she turned to the Grays.

"This is a misunderstanding. Michael's my fiance, and that's his mother."

Chris sized me up and said, "That's him? Your taste in men is terrible."

His father sneered. "You don't even know him this morning, and now he's your fiance? Even if that's the case, he can't move in before you're married! He knows no shame!"

She said nothing. That woman didn't even defend me while her godfather and his son insulted me. She didn't tell them my family was the one that paid for this house's downpayment.

I heaved a sigh and held my mother, wanting to leave, but Lorelei grabbed me. She frowned. "Where are you going?"

I flung her hand away and stared daggers at her. "We're done, Lorelei."

The corridor was dim, yet the swelling on my mother's cheek was still visible. The bloodstains on her collar stung even more.

Lorelei caught up to us. "Hey, let's calm down and talk. Don't throw a tantrum. You and your mother can't leave! Who's going to serve Chris and his dad?"

My mother didn't tell me to stay. With her trembling hands, she quickly pressed the elevator button.