Chapter 4 Quit Fighting Back

Nicole and Michael were having dinner when I got home.

She glanced at me. Her tone was flat as she spoke, "So you've finally decided to grace us with your presence?"

"What gives you the right to make the manager fire me?" I questioned expressionlessly, completely changing the subject.

"Five years have passed. Haven't you humiliated me enough?"

She merely arched a brow at me and answered indifferently, "I'm doing this for your own good. You won't know that home is the best place for you if I don't let you suffer a little.

"Jack, do you know what the word is on the streets about you? I've been the one to keep those nasty comments from reaching your ears. Yet, you've never once thanked me for my efforts!"

Just then, Michael put down his fork and knife and added sarcastically, "Nicole, Jack doesn't appreciate how good you are to him at all. Look at him. He's clearly blaming you!"

"Shut up!"

I couldn't take it anymore. So, I rushed over and raised my hand to punch him.

However, Nicole grabbed my wrist the next second.

"You've even learned to get physical now, huh? As I see it, you still haven't learned your lesson!" she remarked, her voice as cold as ice. "Believe it or not, I'll make it impossible for you to live in Seaton."

My heart clenched as if someone had squeezed it tightly.

She was saying that she would make it impossible for me to live in Seaton. Yet, she completely disregarded the fact that she'd been doing that for the past five fucking years.

She ruined my career and crushed my hope time and time again.

I was worse off than a rat in a sewer. My life was in tatters. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even afford a cremation urn for my ashes.

That was it! I had had enough of her threats!

Finally, I broke down in tears and yelled, "I'm innocent! Nicole, since you've been trying so hard to make my life miserable, then fine. I'll do what you want and die! You'll have no control over me once I'm in hell!"

Nicole turned red in the face, seemingly angered by my words.

"You'll always owe me even when you're dead!"

She pushed me as she spoke.

Even though she didn't use much force, I still fell to the ground.

My lower back slammed into the dining table. The pain made my face turn pale instantly, and I broke out in a cold sweat.

A hint of regret flashed across Nicole's eyes, but she turned her back to me anyway, refusing to look at me.

"You're in no position to even die until you've retrieved Mom's belongings."

With that, she strode away.

I was in so much pain I couldn't get up. Michael stood before me in a condescending demeanor and jeered, "Jack, look at the way you are now. Tsk. How about you get down on your knees and beg me earnestly?

"Then, I'll tell you to whom I sold that crappy bracelet. Deal?"

I glared at him with my eyes bulging with rage. Oh, how I wished I could tear him to pieces right there and then.

Regardless, I knew I was too weak to hit him.

I had lived in humiliation for five years. Yet, never once did I imagine that I wouldn't be able to leave with dignity even in the face of death.

Nicole's words still seemed to echo in my ears.

'You're in no position to even die until you've retrieved Mom's belongings. You'll always owe me even when you're dead!'

Very well. I could finally die in peace once I retrieved my mother's belongings.

I wiped my face, got down on my knees in front of Michael, and begged him earnestly. "Please tell me where my mother's belongings are."

In the past, I would fight back with all my might whenever he schemed against me.

However, not a single rebuttal left my lips over our last few encounters.

As a result, Michael seemed to have suddenly lost interest. He simply tossed me a slip of paper and said, "This is the address. You'll still need to actually get it, though!"