Chapter 300
Mitchell froze for a split second, then gritted his teeth and said, “Grandma, I can’t live without her. I’ve always just fooled around with other women, but with her, I’m serious. I chased after her for years before she finally agreed to be with me…”
“If it’s been so hard to get her, why don’t you cherish her?”
Mitchell shrugged, trying to justify himself. “People always want something new. Just because I fool around doesn’t mean I don’t love her. As long as I know how to come back home in the end, what’s the problem? Why do women always have so many demands? Isn’t it enough to have what you want? Why always want more?”
His true colors were finally showing.
His grandmother seemed unsurprised, as if she’d seen through him long ago. Calmly, she said, “You’re not right for Effie. What she needs is a partner who’s faithful, someone she can depend on.”
Mitchell bristled. “And why am I not good enough? You think Lyman is any better? Who does he think he is? Effie isn’t in his league. You really think she deserves someone like Lyman? He’s just using her for fun. When he’s bored, he’ll toss her aside “
“Get out!” the old woman snapped, her voice suddenly sharp. “To you, you’re always number one. Even you don’t respect Effie, so why would your parents? A man like you doesn’t deserve her. I used to keep my mouth shut because she insisted on being with you. But now that she’s finally come to her senses, I couldn’t be happier for her. Better to cut your losses while you still can.”
She fixed him with a steely glare. “If you keep making a scene at my door, I won’t be so polite next time!”
“Grandma, you need to think this through. Effie’s only going to end up hurt- because nobody knows her better than I do—”
Before he could finish, Mitchell felt a blur in his vision and was suddenly hit by a wave of something foul and putrid. He gagged, stumbling back as he wiped the disgusting mess off his face. “Ugh-what the hell is this, you crazy old bat?”
His grandmother looked at him squarely. “Trash belongs with trash.”
A few moments earlier, she’d disappeared into the kitchen. Thankfully, she hadn’t thrown out the fish guts from breakfast yet. After sitting out and fermenting for hours, the stench was even more unbearable.
Mitchell doubled over, dry-heaving. “Ugh…”
“Grandma!”
Effie rushed over, shoving Mitchell aside. Just moments before, she’d heard his voice on the phone and had panicked, fearing for her grandmother’s safety. She’d told Lyman to get them there as fast as possible.
Lyman had ordered his driver to speed through red lights, and finally, they’d arrived.
Grandma looked at Effie and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. He’s the one who’s a mess.”
It was only then that Effie noticed Mitchell, covered in garbage and looking utterly pathetic.
She couldn’t help it-she burst out laughing.
“Grandma, let’s get you inside and wash up. That trash… it’s filthy.” Her last remark was pointed, her meaning clear.
“Alright.”
Mitchell tried to follow them inside, but before he could take a step, someone moved faster and blocked his path with an outstretched arm.
Mitchell looked up along the broad arm to see Lyman standing there. Frowning, he scowled, “Move.”
Lyman’s voice was low and cold. “If you come after Effie again, you’ll have only yourself to blame for what happens next.”
Mitchell stopped in his tracks, hesitating.
But then his eyes narrowed, and an ugly little smirk crept onto his face as he looked at Lyman. “Lyman, who would’ve thought? The great heir to the Etheridge family, settling for my leftovers. So, how does it feel? Is it easier for you since I’ve already broken her in?”
He didn’t finish the sentence before Lyman’s fist crashed into his jaw.
Mitchell’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, a metallic tang flooding his mouth as he realized with a curse-Lyman had split his lip.