Right after I opened the door, I saw my mother eating biscuits and gravy. I felt my heart jump to my throat.

“Mom, didn’t I give you money? Why are you still eating these things? They’re not nutritious at all!”

Since my mother was not expecting my return, she was delighted. “Why the sudden visit, Naomi? Where’s Liam?”

As I stared at her graying temples, my nose burned.

Over the years, I had been busy earning money and getting into Liam’s good graces. But I neglected the woman who had given birth to me and brought me up.

So, I made up my mind: once I filed for divorce with Liam, I would have my mother move in with me to take care of her.

“I haven’t eaten anything yet. Why don’t we eat out?”

My mother shook her head at that idea. “That’s such a waste of money. Wait here. I’ll cook something for you.”

She then hurried into the kitchen. But when she opened the fridge, all she found were pickles and some wilting vegetables.

“Yeah, we should go out.”

This time, I did not give her the chance to object and just brought her out.

Once we were done, we visited the supermarket and bought some groceries before going home.

However, just as we arrived at our doorstep, we found that someone had already opened our door.

My mother thought that someone had broken in. She ran in to check, only to find Liam speaking haughtily inside.

“Why did you run out instead of staying inside? My relatives are coming over later. You have to move out for the next few days!”

Rage burned in me, and I walked in. “Who are you asking to move out, Liam?”

When he saw me, Liam was shocked. “Why are you here, Naomi?”

“This is my house? Where else am I supposed to go?”

He just huffed in response and did not seem too bothered by what I said. “Heather wants to borrow this place for a few days, and I’ve agreed to it. Since you’re here, get your mother to move out for the duration.”

He spoke so matter-of-factly…

To him, this was his house, and he was the real owner.

Heather immediately corroborated what he said. “Naomi, I just want to borrow this place for a while. If you don’t find it agreeable, I can pay you rent.”

I cast a glance at her annoying antics.

Before I could say anything, Liam snorted. “Why give her any money? It’s not as if it’s easy for you to earn it. In any case, the place is big, and it’s a waste for Naomi’s mother to live here alone. Your relatives should enjoy living here instead.

“Besides, I own the place too. She has no right to chase you out!”

My blood boiled, but before I could yell at him and say no, I heard loud chatter outside.

Mia then entered excitedly with a large group of people.

Her cheeks had a healthy, red glow. She did not look sick at all.

“This is the manor my son-in-law bought for me. Look. It’s so grand. My daughter’s great, isn’t she? She got herself such a good husband.

“Stay here over the course of the wedding. I’ve made all the arrangements.”

Then, she saw my mother standing at the door uneasily.

She scowled, and there was clear scorn in her eyes.

“Who are you, and why are you here?

“What’s with the security guards? How could they let a beggar in?!

“Oh, I get it. You must be the nanny my son-in-law hired.

“Why are you still standing there? Don’t you see the guests? Make them tea, or I’m firing you!”

My mother still had not made sense of the situation and gave me a puzzled look.

However, before she could say anything, Mia had rushed over to slap her. “I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?!

“Look at you. You’re dressed like a beggar. My son-in-law already pitied you by hiring you as a nanny, and you’re not listening to me?!”

“Make some tea now, or I’m firing you!”

Mia slapped my mother so fiercely that her right cheek became swollen immediately.

“Mom!”

I was shocked, and I immediately rushed over to support her.

Then, I glanced at Mia and the large number of relatives behind her before growling, “I’m giving you one minute to get out of here, or I’m calling the police!”

Mia was not afraid in the slightest. Instead, she placed her hands on her hips and laughed.

“Who do you think you are? How dare you order me around?

“My son-in-law bought this house for me. Even if the police come, they’re going to arrest you two for barging in.”

I was so angry that my chest heaved, and I glared at Liam. “So, you have nothing to say to me?”

Liam’s expression soured, and he walked over to my side.

Just when I thought he was finally going to be truthful, he shoved my arm. “Quiet! Why are you yelling at the guests when you’re just the nanny’s daughter?

“You’re both fired! Leave now!”

When Mia heard this, she immediately said, “Once you finish packing, I’m going through your things. Look at how shabbily you’re dressed. I’m sure you’re a thief too. You might take a few things before leaving.”

My mother had never gone through such injustice before. She stepped forward and shouted, “This is my home! You’re the ones leaving!”

Mia flew into a rage. “You’re still staying like a shameless piece of trash! I’m going to teach you a lesson!”

Before anyone could react to the situation, she kicked my mother in the stomach.

My mother’s head fell against the floor, and she immediately lost consciousness.

At that, Liam’s face turned pale.

It seemed that he never expected things to turn out like this, much less thought that Mia would attack my mother.

“Mom! Don’t scare me!”

Right then, I could not be bothered to make Mia pay for what she had done. I just took out my phone to call the ambulance.

However, Mia refused to relent and continued insulting my mother.

“You old bat! Don’t go thinking that I’ll get scared just because you’re pretending to be unconscious! You’re trying to scam me, aren’t you?! Dream on!

“This is my house! If you want to die, do it outside! This is a happy occasion! Don’t ruin it with your bad luck!”

Mia’s gaggle of relatives even tried to throw my mother outside after hearing what she had said.

I shoved the person at the forefront away and yelled, “Touch my mom! I dare you!”

Perhaps my expression was too terrifying because these people were shocked.

Heather had been watching the show for a long while by the side. At that moment, she finally came forward and pretended to put a stop to the situation.

“Mom, this is a happy occasion. What on earth are you doing?

“Liam, bring my mom around the place, will you?

“As for the nanny you hired, her daughter’s taking care of her, right? I don’t think anything will happen.”

Heather was intentionally reducing my mother’s status to that of a nanny.

She wanted to use this chance to insult me and make me angry.

However, all I cared about was my unconscious mother. I was not in the mood for her lowly provocations.

“Liam, are you even human? My mother treats you so nicely and even loves you like her own son, but you’re doing this to her?

“She’s lying here, and we don’t even know whether she’ll survive. Yet, you’re still in the mood to bring that murderer around?”

Liam glanced at me as well as my mother, and hesitation flickered in his eyes. “I—”

However, Mia interrupted him before he could finish speaking.

“What did you say? Who’s a murderer?

“Your mother’s the shameless one here who refused to leave my house! Liam, chase them out!”