Chapter 3

In the afternoon, just as I pulled up to my villa, I saw a battered, rusty pickup truck parked right at my gate.

The doors opened, and a burly, middle-aged man in a cheap floral shirt and a younger guy with bleached yellow hair and face piercings climbed down.

They were hauling dirty duffel bags and looking around my property with greedy eyes.

"Holy crap! So this is the mansion my girl lives in! Damn, it’s huge!"

The older man shouted in a loud, boisterous voice, slapping his thigh in excitement.

The yellow-haired kid’s eyes lit up too. Hanging a cigarette from his lip, he smirked, "Dad, Austin really scored a rich sugar mommy this time! We’re going to live like kings!"

I frowned and walked up to them.

"Who are you? What are you doing on my property?"

The older man sized me up, rolling his eyes.

"Who are you? This is my daughter-in-law Chloe’s house! My son Austin is her absolute favorite. He’s going to run this place now!"

So, these were Austin's trashy family members.

I scoffed. "Chloe's house? You’ve got it wrong. This house belongs to the Millers. And your freeloading son was kicked out yesterday."

"Bullshit!"

The yellow-haired kid spat his cigarette onto my driveway, pointing his finger at my nose. "Chloe said half of this place is hers! Who the hell are you to kick my brother out?"

Just then, Chloe’s car pulled up, with Austin in the passenger seat.

Seeing me, Chloe looked slightly uncomfortable, but she quickly squared her shoulders and got out.

"So what if you froze my cards, Ethan? I still own half of this house. I have every right to let Austin and his family move in!"

She pointed at me and turned to Austin's dad.

"Gary, this is my useless husband. Ignore him. Just take your bags inside!"

Gary instantly put his hands on his hips and spat on the ground near my shoes.

"Ha! So you’re the pathetic loser who couldn't even keep his woman! No wonder Chloe chose my Austin! Let me tell you, my son is the master of this house now. This place belongs to him!"

With that, he gestured to the yellow-haired kid, Tyler, to push past me.

I blocked the entrance, staring them down with a deadly gaze.

"Take one step inside this house, and you will regret it."

My aura was so intense that Gary and Tyler froze, instinctively backing up a step.

Chloe, feeling embarrassed in front of Austin's family, flew into a rage. She rushed forward to shove me out of the way.

"Get out of the way, Ethan! This is my house, and I’ll let whoever I want live here!"

She pushed me hard, but I didn't push back. I simply stepped aside, making her lose her balance and stumble.

Austin took this chance to lead his father and brother past me, walking right into my house.

"Woah! This couch is so soft! Look at the size of this TV!"

The moment Tyler walked in, he dragged his mud-stained boots all over my expensive Persian rug and crashed onto my million-dollar Italian leather sofa.

Gary looked around like a stray dog entering a palace. Finally, his eyes locked onto the master suite downstairs—the room where my late parents used to sleep.

"Oh, this room is huge! It has the best view too! Austin, I’m taking this room. Once I’m settled, I can help you guys watch the kids!"

He picked up his smelly, greasy duffel bag and marched toward the master suite.

"Stop right there!"

I roared, rushing over to block the door.

"That was my parents' room. Nobody goes in there."

Since my parents passed away, I had kept that room exactly the same. I cleaned it myself every day and never allowed anyone to desecrate it.

Gary sneered at me, talking in a mockingly loud voice.

"Dead people’s room? What a waste of space! It’s bad luck anyway. Let me sleep in there to clear out the bad vibes!"

"I’m going to say this one last time. Get the hell out of my house."

My voice was like ice.

Chloe walked over, pulling at my sleeve impatiently.

"Ethan, stop being dramatic! It’s just a room for dead people. Gary came all this way to support us. What’s wrong with letting him have a nice room? Don't be so cheap!"

I violently ripped my arm away and slammed my fist into the drywall next to her, leaving a deep dent.

Chloe shrieked and jumped back, terrified.

"Chloe, take one more step, and I won't be responsible for what happens to you."

I stared into her eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately.

She was completely terrified by my dark expression, her lips trembling, not daring to say another word.