Chapter 4

I changed the door lock code and sent a written notice to the property management, making it clear that Harry has to check with me first before bringing anyone over.

Then I opened my laptop, uploaded the security footage to the cloud, took screenshots, sorted them, and marked the times.

At two in the morning, Harry called.

I didn't answer.

He sent a message: [Tiana's in the hospital under observation. Are you satisfied now?]

I stared at his message, then started typing my reply: [Be here at nine tomorrow morning with all her stuff. If you're late, I'm tossing it in the trash.]

After sending it, I muted him.

The wind outside rattled the window, making a dull thud.

My mom coughed in the next room.

I got up to get some water, and as I passed the storage room, I saw the foldable bed. The mattress was so thin I could feel the metal frame underneath.

I reached out and touched it. It was ice-cold.

The next second, I yanked off the sheets and swept all of Tiana's stuff, including her scented candles, skincare products, and pink slippers, into a trash bag.

The diffuser bottle shattered, and a sickly sweet smell filled the air.

I tied the trash bag shut.

"This place needs some fresh air," I said.

*****

The next morning, Harry didn't show up at nine. At half past nine, his mom, Natasha Hewitt, showed up.

Natasha stood at the door, holding a bag of apples, her face long and sour.

"Irene, open up. I know you're in there," she called out.

Through the video doorbell, I saw Tiana standing behind her.

Tiana was wearing a white dress, with Harry's jacket draped over her shoulders. She had no makeup on, but her lips were a perfect shade of pink.

I didn't open the door. Instead, I pressed the intercom button.

"I'll have someone from the building bring her stuff down," I said.

Natasha banged on the door and snapped, "So what, you're not even letting my son in anymore?"

"Harry can come in, but Tiana can't," I replied.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

"Natasha, I should just go. I don't want to make things difficult for Harry," Tiana said softly.

Natasha quickly reached out and grabbed her.

"Why are you leaving? Your dad helped Harry a lot back then. You shouldn't forget your roots. And you're a young girl. If people hear you got kicked out like this, what will they think?" Natasha snapped.

I watched them playing off each other through the screen.

Harry was nowhere to be seen.

This was what he did best, letting others take the lead so I'd be forced to give in out of respect for the elders.

I used to give in.

At the wedding party, Harry's cousin suddenly decided she wanted to sit at the head table, so my mom got shoved into a corner. I let it happen.

When his relatives came over for the holidays, my mom got kicked out of the guest room and had to sleep on the couch. I gave in again.

I thought giving in was leaving room for our marriage.

But I understood. If I kept backing down, they'd end up trampling all over my mom, right in her own home.

I grabbed Tiana's suitcase, dragged it to the door, opened it just a crack, and pushed the suitcase out into the hallway.

"Take her stuff," I said.

Natasha stuck her foot in the doorway.

"Open up and talk to me!" she shouted.

I looked down at her foot.

"Natasha, if you don't move your foot, don't blame me if it gets pinched," I said.

Natasha froze. She said, "Not a chance."

I repeated, "Natasha, please move your foot."

Her face turned pale.

Tiana grabbed her arm. "Natasha, please don't be upset. I know Irene's angry. I understand."

Natasha snapped, "Understand what? Her mother's spoiled her rotten. She's been part of the Blair family for years and still doesn't know how to behave."

My hand froze on the doorknob.

"What did you say about my mom?" I shot back.

Natasha gave a mocking laugh. "Did I say anything wrong? She is living with her daughter and son-in-law.

"She should stay out of the way and not cause trouble. But instead, she's always complaining and hogging the room. Tiana's not well. What's wrong with giving her the room for a bit?"

I swung the door wide open.

The cold hallway air rushed in, making the sleeves of my pajamas flutter.

Natasha thought I was backing down and lifted her foot to step inside.

I reached out and blocked her. "Say that again."

She glared at me and said, "Sure, I'll say it again. Your mom doesn't know boundaries.

"She's been taking over your place and won't leave, making it impossible for anyone to get any peace."

My mom came out of the bedroom, her face pale and ashen.

"Natasha, please don't say that. I'll head back to the old place today," she said quietly.

I turned to look at her and said, "Mom, go back to your room."

Her lips trembled. "Irene, let it go."

My voice turned cold. "Go back to your room."

She stopped in her tracks, then slowly made her way back to her room, steadying herself against the wall.

Natasha sneered. "Wow, you really know how to put on airs."

I walked over to the entryway cabinet, pulled out my phone, and pointed it right at her.

"I recorded everything you just said. Natasha, you know perfectly well who's been paying the monthly fees for that retirement apartment you're living in," I said.

Natasha's face changed instantly.

Harry bought her a small two-bedroom place. I fronted the down payment. The deed was in his name, and we both paid the mortgage together.

When his business tanked in our second year of marriage, I covered his share of the mortgage for six months.

After that, the property fees kept coming out of my account to make things easier.

Natasha suddenly raised her voice. "What, you think you can use money to boss me around?"

I said, "I'm not trying to boss you around with money. I'm reminding you. My mom doesn't owe you a thing, so stop acting like you run the place.

"Since you love talking about rules so much, tell me what kind of rule lets you bring a stranger here and trash the homeowner's mom?"

Tiana backed away, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Irene, I only came to pick up my things."

"Grab your stuff and cut the act," I snapped.

Her expression froze.

Natasha stuck her finger right in my face. "You really dare to treat me like this? Harry won't let you off," she snapped.

I glanced at her finger and pushed it aside.

"Let him try," I said.