Chapter 3

On my way home, Ethan kept blowing up my phone with texts, accusing me of being petty and jealous of his girlfriend, demanding that I apologize to both of them.

I texted back: [Ethan, from this moment on, our families are done. We don't know each other. Wouldn't want your psychotic girlfriend having another meltdown.]

When I told my parents what happened, they immediately agreed to cut all ties with the Vance family.

Yet the very next day, Mrs. Vance showed up at my doorstep carrying a gift basket.

The second I opened the door, she dropped to her knees.

"Joanna, I am so sorry about yesterday! It’s my fault for raising such an ungrateful boy. I brought him here today to apologize to you!"

"Mrs. Vance, please, get up!"

I quickly helped her to her feet. No matter how furious I was, I couldn't bear having an elderly woman kneel before me.

Seeing my resolve soften, Mrs. Vance dragged Ethan out from behind her and snapped, "You idiot! Joanna treated you like a real brother growing up, and you caused all this drama over some girl?! Apologize to her right now!"

Ethan looked deeply reluctant, but he still gave a stiff bow.

"I'm sorry, Joanna. I was out of my mind yesterday, just making a stupid joke. You know how hard it is for me to get a girlfriend... Can you just let it slide?"

I frowned. His apology sounded completely hollow and irritating.

Still, having them loitering in my doorway was a headache, so I gave a curt response:

"What's done is done. Let's just drop it."

I went to close the door, but Mrs. Vance caught the scent of the lamb chops I was braising. She pulled Ethan straight into my apartment.

Before I could react, the two of them were already sitting at my dining table, grabbing silverware, smiling back at me. "Joanna, come on, eat with us!"

Fine. Since we hadn't completely burned the bridge, this would be my final act of hospitality.

We took barely two bites before violent kicking rattled my front door. "Open the damn door, you cheating scumbags!"

Ethan’s face went pale. He scrambled over to unlock it.

The very next second, Vanessa stormed inside, screaming like a banshee:

"Joanna, you shameless whore! Sneaking my boyfriend into your place behind my back?! You're deliberately trying to test me, aren't you?!"

"No, Vanessa, let me explain—"

Before Ethan could finish, Vanessa slapped him hard across the face.

"Shut up! Look at you, totally getting off on this bitch clinging to you!"

Her mouth was as vile as a sewer. The fury in my chest surged uncontrollably.

Suppressing my urge to kill, I pointed at the door and said in an icy tone, "Get the hell out of my apartment right now. Leave, or I'm calling the cops."

Seeing her precious son get struck, Mrs. Vance raised her walking cane and swung it at Vanessa. "You little tramp, how dare you lay a hand on my son?! I’ve never even touched a hair on his head!"

Vanessa dodged, shrieking, "You decrepit old hag! You wish that little whore could be your daughter-in-law, don't you?”

“ Too bad your son thinks she's an ugly grandma and loves only me! You don't deserve to be Ethan's mother!"

She dashed into the dining room and, without a second thought, flipped the table over. Hot lamb chops and broth splashed everywhere across the floor.

Blind with rage, I lunged forward and slapped her across the face. "You dare come into my home and trash it?! Are you completely insane?!"

"Let me say this one more time: I don't give a damn about Ethan. Nobody is competing for your garbage!"

Holding her stinging cheek, Vanessa let out a bloodcurdling screech. "Ethan! Are you just gonna stand there and watch her beat me?! I swear to God, if you don't avenge me right now, we are done!"

Without a second of hesitation, Ethan grabbed a wooden chair and hurled it straight at my head.

I ducked just in time and pulled out my phone to dial 911.

In the next blink, Vanessa grabbed an 8-inch chef's knife from the open kitchen counter, charging at me like a maniac.

"You home-wrecking whore, I'll kill you!"

In a panic, Mrs. Vance swung her cane to intercept her. But Vanessa violently shifted direction and drove the blade straight into Mrs. Vance's abdomen. "Die, you old hag!"

Amidst Ethan’s terrified scream, Mrs. Vance collapsed into a pool of blood.

"Mom!"

The sudden, brutal turn of events froze everyone in their tracks.

Ethan roared at me, "Call an ambulance! Save my mom!"

Vanessa dropped the bloody knife, throwing herself into Ethan’s arms, wailing hysterically, "Baby, I didn't mean to... It was Joanna! She pushed me! If anything happens to your mom, I won't live either!"