Chapter 2

After leaving Rosalind's hometown, I drove straight to my mom's place.

Rosalind never liked living with my mother, so after we got married, my mom offered to move back to her old town.

I bought her a small house in the best gated community in town.

I figured she was getting older; it was time for her to relax and enjoy her life.

Rosalind gave me the silent treatment for three months because of it.

She only stopped fighting with me after my mom agreed to put the house in both of our names.

When I opened the door, I saw my mom eating a bowl of thin soup and some pickles. My heart clenched.

"Mom, I sent you money for groceries, didn't I? Why are you still eating this stuff?"

She wasn't expecting me. Her eyes lit up with surprise. "Son, what a surprise! Where's Rosalind?"

I looked at the gray in her hair, and my nose started to burn.

All these years, I'd been so focused on making money, on pleasing Rosalind, that I had neglected the woman who raised me.

I made a decision right then. As soon as the divorce was final, I was moving my mom in with me to take care of her.

"Mom, I haven't eaten either. Let me take you out for a nice meal."

She quickly waved her hands. "That's such a waste of money. You wait here, I'll cook for you."

She hurried towards the kitchen.

But when she opened the fridge, there was nothing inside but more pickles and some wilted vegetables.

"Mom, we're eating out."

This time, I didn't give her a chance to argue. I just led her out the door.

After dinner, I took her to the supermarket and we stocked up on groceries before heading home.

But as we got to the front door, we saw it was wide open.

My mom thought we'd been robbed and rushed inside to see what was going on.

Then, Rosalind's arrogant voice echoed from inside the house.

"Where have you been, running around outside? I have relatives coming over. You'll need to find somewhere else to stay for a few days."

A hot spike of anger shot through me as I walked in after my mom.

"Rosalind, who are you telling to move out?"

She was clearly startled to see me. "Merrick, what are you doing here?"

I scoffed. "This is my mother's house. Where else would I be?"

She pouted, not caring in the slightest.

"Sterling needed to borrow the house for a few days, and I already said yes. It's good you're here. You can take your mom and stay somewhere else for a couple of nights."

She said it so matter-of-factly.

In her mind, this was her house. She was the true owner.

Sterling, standing beside her, immediately chimed in. "Merrick, I just wanted to borrow the house for a bit."

"If you're really not cool with it, I can pay you rent."

I shot a disgusted look at Sterling's smarmy face.

Before I could speak, Rosalind sneered.

"Why should we pay him? You work hard for your money. Besides, this house is too big for an old woman to live in by herself. It's a waste. Better to let your family enjoy it."

"Plus, my name is on the deed. He has no right to kick you out!"

Her words sent a wave of fury through my chest.

But before I could refuse, a loud commotion erupted at the doorway.