Chapter 12
Martha had reached her breaking point. She was so furious she couldn’t even speak.
Tiffany’s father was deliberately trying to humiliate her and poured gasoline on the fire: “What’s with the attitude? Got a problem with it? Let me tell you something–one word from my daughter and you’re out on your ass!”
Pete couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed his hand on the table: “You’ve gone too damn far! Mr. Thompson’s gonna bring his wife home eventually, and when he does, your whole trashy family will be the ones getting kicked out!”
This was the first time anyone had stood up to Tiffany’s father since he’d been throwing his weight around the house. He pointed right in Pete’s face: “You’re just some gardener! Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that? I’ll have Tiffany fire your sorry ass too!”
Pete laughed bitterly: “Your daughter’s nothing but a home–wrecking whore. If she really ran this house, I’d quit before she could fire me! You people just trash—”
Before he could finish, Tiffany’s father punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground and kicking him while he was
down.
Martha rushed to help Pete, but Tiffany’s mother jumped her, clawing at her face. All four of them were soon brawling, making enough noise to attract the security guards on their nightly patrol.
The guard peered into the mansion and saw the chaotic fight, immediately calling the police.
Ethan and Tiffany were completely absorbed in trying out new positions in the bedroom upstairs, totally oblivious to the chaos below. It wasn’t until the police came up and knocked on the bedroom door that they hastily threw on bathrobes and got out of bed.
The cops took one look at their disheveled state and Tiffany’s flushed face and immediately understood why they’d been deaf to all the commotion downstairs. One officer cleared his throat awkwardly: “You’re the homeowners, right? There’s been a fight downstairs. We need you to come take a look.”
“A fight?” Ethan looked completely baffled, as if he couldn’t process what they were telling him. “Who was fighting? How could something like this happen in my house?”
The officer explained as they headed downstairs: “Your in–laws got into it with your gardener and housekeeper…”
Ethan’s face darkened when the cop referred to Tiffany’s parents as his in–laws. When he saw Pete’s bloodied face and Martha caught up in the mess, his expression turned ice–cold.
By now, Tiffany’s father had been pinned to the ground for mouthing off to the police, while her mother was sitting on the floor having a complete meltdown. The moment they saw Ethan and Tiffany coming downstairs, they started screaming.
“Ethan! My son–in–law, thank God you’re here! I was just putting your smart–ass employees in their place, and they had the nerve to call these little pigs! I told them you’re my son–in–law, but instead of showing me respect, they put their hands on me! Make them let me go right now!”
“No way we’re letting this slide–gotta call their supervisor and get these cocky little cops fired…”
They were completely oblivious to how humiliating their behavior was, still bossing around the man they considered their
son–in–law.
Tiffany knew Ethan hated being embarrassed, and seeing his obvious displeasure, she frantically tried to signal her parents:
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Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
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Dad Mom, aedges to this where a wine stop the long the weste
She carefully watched Films represion,
if he shpet at fur parents would spill over onto her. But her parents were
and chipless to read the van and toga making demokids.
Tiffany’s father fel We he’d Jon ther and got even more aggressive, threatening Ethan. If you don’t handle this to my satisfaction, you can forget about marrying my daughter
Bait What are you saying? Tiffany’s voice went shrill trying to stop him, but it was too late.
The atmosphere instantly turned arctic.
ihan gave Tiffany’s father one cold look, then turned and headed upstairs without looking back: “Fine then. No time like the present–take your daughter and get out today.”
22-02
