Chapter 120
Ava jumped in fright. In three years of marriage, she had never seen Howard this angry. The last time he got this mad was when William and Sarah upset him so much that he ended up in the hospital.
Ava quickly moved closer to calm Howard down.
"Grandpa, please don't be angry. Take your time and tell us what's wrong. Don't make yourself sick."
Howard's lips were trembling with rage.
"Ava, today I'm here to back you up. Whatever else this jerk has done, tell me everything at once. I can't believe the Morgan family is now being run by him?"
William kept his face stern and said nothing.
Ava didn't know what Howard was angry about.
"Grandpa, he hasn't done anything."
Howard snorted.
"You're still defending him. He's moved that shady woman into your marital home, and you can put up with that? I gave you that house as a wedding gift, not for him to keep his mistress in."
Howard then turned to scold William.
"You shameless bastard! You have a wife, and you're using her home to keep another woman? Why don't you just go be with that woman instead? It's not like the Morgan Group has no one else who can take over."
As soon as he finished speaking, Michael came down the stairs.
"Dad, what's going on? Why are you so angry this early in the morning?"
Howard was so angry he could barely speak.
"Your good-for-nothing nephew has brought his mistress into his own home. If he's so capable, why doesn't he become an emperor and keep a whole bunch of mistresses?
If I hadn't overheard that phone call this morning, I wouldn't even know about this. How much longer was this bastard planning to hide it from me? I won't be able to face my old friend for decades even after I die."
Ava knew the old friend Howard was referring to was her grandmother. She felt terrible inside. It was her grandmother who, before passing away, entrusted her to Howard when she had no one else. Without that connection, she would never have met William in this lifetime, and wouldn't have this messy relationship.
Michael adjusted his glasses.
"Dad, no need to get so angry. William is a hot-blooded man after all; mistakes happen. If you teach him properly, he'll change."
From the corner of her eye, Ava stole a glance at William. His expression looked even worse. Michael wasn't comforting anyone—he was clearly adding fuel to the fire.
"Grandpa, can I explain?"
William had taken both the scolding and the beating, and finally thought to defend himself.
"Sarah and I aren't what you think. You said you were old friends with Ava's grandmother for decades. If you can have friends of the opposite sex, why can't I?"
William directly used Howard as an example, implying he had double standards.
Howard wanted to hit him again. His eyes scanned around looking for something to throw, but finding nothing within reach, he gave up.
"You bastard, still won't admit you're wrong. Your grandmother and I were classmates with Ava's grandparents. The four of us had a deep friendship.
Can you guarantee that Sarah has no improper intentions toward you? I think that woman wants way too much. She doesn't just want you, you fool—she wants the entire Morgan Group. Only you think she's innocent."
As soon as Howard finished, Michael chimed in again.
"Dad, don't worry so much. Give William some time to break things off with that woman. William isn't that confused—he knows what matters."
William shot Michael an unfriendly look, as if saying, "Shut up!"
The atmosphere in the living room froze; everyone was holding their breath.
William grabbed a tissue from the coffee table and wiped the blood and water from his forehead. The cut on his head was still slowly bleeding, looking painful.
Ava watched his rough movements and wanted to help. She had just shifted her foot when Howard pulled her back.
"Ava, come back. Nobody helps him today. Let that bastard suffer."
In just a few minutes, Howard had said "bastard" countless times.
"Here's what we'll do—go back and sell that house. Throw away everything that woman used. We don't want the house she lived in, either; it's disgusting. I'll find Ava a new place, and this time we'll put it in Ava's name only. Let's see who dares to move shady people in then!"
Howard was clearly saying this for William to hear. William said nothing, but Michael picked up the conversation.
"Dad, leave this to me. A friend of mine opened several developments this year. I'll have him save the best unit."
Howard gave Michael an approving look.
And so it was decided.
Sarah, living at JadeDragon Bay Residences, had no idea she was about to say goodbye to this place. Right now, she was facing online harassment and offline harassment from internet users.
William told her to stock up on supplies and not go out for a few days. At first, she didn't take it seriously, but after just one night, she realized things weren't as simple as she thought.
She'd been forced to keep her phone turned off. Every da,y countless unknown numbers sent her abusive text messages, even telling her to die.
There were also harassing calls, and her social media accounts were forced to close comments after being flooded with abuse.
Now she didn't even dare leave her door. Those people were crazy, blocking her at the complex. This morning, she just wanted to go out for some pastries, but as soon as she left the complex gate, someone dumped a bucket of dirty water on her.
This wasn't the first time she'd been doused.
She ran home terrified, only to have more people show up at her door, splashing paint on it, throwing trash, and dumping manure. She wanted to die. Just for borrowing one stupid manuscript from Lolly, she had to endure this treatment. Had the world gone crazy?
She called property management to stop those people. They promised over and over, but the people kept coming anyway. She was alone at home, helpless and terrified. She worked up the courage to turn on her phone and call William, but he didn't answer.
She was afraid those people would break down the door and drag her out for a public shaming.
Finally, the noise outside her door stopped. But the peace only lasted a moment before someone rang the doorbell again.
Sarah gathered her courage and looked through the peephole. Seeing the man outside, tears streamed down her face.
She couldn't wait to open the door and throw herself into the man's arms.
"How did you get here?"
The man came in carrying a bag of groceries.
"Now you think I'm close to you? Why not have Mr. Morgan come save you?"
Sarah said nothing, her tears soaking a patch of the man's chest. Right now, she needed the chest of a man who could give her security, not empty excuses about always being busy.
Seeing her like this, the man softened and put down what he was carrying to hold her tight.
"Scared now? Why didn't you call me?"
Sarah choked out, "My number got exposed, I didn't dare turn on my phone."
"Why don't you change your number and come with me? We'll leave this place forever?"
Sarah immediately pulled away from the man's embrace, stubborn tears hanging at the corners of her eyes.
She said nothing, but the man already understood her meaning from her expression.
"Come help me cook. I'll make you sweet and sour ribs."
Sarah stood there silently for a moment.
"Don't bring that up again. My man can only be one person, and it won't be you."
The man got a bit angry and picked her up, striding quickly toward the bathroom.
"Does William know how much you need it?"
In a few moves, clothes were scattered everywhere on the floor. The sound of running water came from the bathroom, the rhythm getting stronger and stronger.
"Say it, who's your man?"
Sarah answered stubbornly, "I won't give up on marrying him. Forget about it. Mmm... gentle!"
The man got rough.
"Fucking heartless after getting what you want. Never seen a woman like you. Come looking for me when you need it, today I'm going to fuck you to death."
Lost in passion, Sarah uncontrollably grabbed the man's hair and murmured.
"Don't... stop."