How did it turn into badmouthing him and Jessica?
“I’ll be right there. I’m sorry, Liberty.”
Hank apologized on behalf of his mother and sister before ending the call. Picking up his car keys, he told his father, “Dad, Mom and Chelsea made a fool of themselves at
Liberty’s diner again. Come with me to bring them back.”
Black in the face, Mr. Brown took a moment to swallow the news and said, “They have nothing better to do.”
They had a nice thing going on as a family, and it had all come to an end. It took Hank to get a new wife for Mrs. Brown and Chelsea to appreciate Liberty. Now the ladies would not stop harassing Liberty, and it was embarrassing.
“I’ll take your mom back to our hometown after your wedding. We won’t come to the city unless necessary.”
Mr. Brown believed taking his wife and daughter back home could give the newlyweds some space. The absence and distance would do them all some good. At least, the family would not be having fights every day. That way, his former daughter-in-law would be left alone too.
Hank’s silence reflected his acceptance of his father’s decision.
Liberty just got off the phone with her ex-husband when Duncan pushed open the glass door, all guns blazing. He had a team of security behind him too.
She was lost for words.
What was going on?
Grandma May thought to herself, ‘Oh, my. A party came.’
“Kick these troublemaking women out!”
Duncan entered and ordered the security guards to chase the mother and daughter out. Duncan tensed his scarred face and looked grimacing as he walked out of the restaurant and stood before the Browns, who were quaking in their boots.
“I own half the commercial spaces on this street. Are you trying to disrespect me by giving my tenant problems? I’m warning you. You’ll be in serious trouble if you continue to give problems to my tenant.
“Get lost!”
“W-We… We’ll leave r-right now!”
Mrs. Brown was scared out of her pants.
She grabbed her daughter and ran.
The mother and daughter raced into the car and drove off.
Jessica was watching everything from outside when Duncan came along with a security team. It was her cue to take cover in her car. Jessica secretly observed and even took a video to show Hank later.
Liberty had gotten herself another man. Hank had become the past, so he should just forget about Liberty and focus on his life with Jessica.
Once the mother and daughter were gone, Duncan returned to the diner while the security guards stayed put outside. However, it was rather striking to have a dozen men in uniform hanging around. Liberty’s neighbors popped their heads out to see what was going on.
These people did not know who Duncan was because Duncan hired someone else to collect the rent. They had no idea that the scarred face guy was their real landlord.
Duncan looked at the wide-eyed Liberty and then at Grandma May who was watching keenly. He had the feeling that he had been fooled.
After all, who was Grandma May?
Sure, Grandma May was old, but she was fit enough to handle Mrs. Brown and Chelsea. Besides, Liberty was no pushover. She could team up with Grandma May to kick those two out. There was no need for Duncan to play the hero.
Grandma May set him up.
Realizing that he had been duped, Duncan kept calm on the surface and approached Sonny like nothing ever happened. He got on his knee and pulled Sonny toward him to give him a cuddle.
Sonny did not take kindly toward Duncan’s hugs, so he started putting up a fight.
“You must be scared, Sonny. Don’t be scared. I’m here to save you.”
Liberty was speechless.
Grandma May was lost for words.
Snapping out of her trance, Liberty asked, “Mr. Lewis, h-how did you know they were here?”
Duncan let go of the struggling boy. Despite giving Sonny many pinwheels, he still could not get through to the little man. Duncan believed he was a failure because he could never get the three-year-old to like him.
“Grandma May called me and said your former mother-in-law and sister-in-law were stirring trouble at your place. She told me to hurry over with security, and I did because I was worried that they might scare Sonny and hurt Grandma May.
“Are you all alright?”
Liberty was in a daze. No wonder Duncan showed up out of the blue. It turned out Grandma May called him for help.
Well, Lewis & Co. was nearby after all.
It made sense why Grandma May sought Duncan for help.
Without thinking much of it, Liberty said, “They have no shame, but I’m not afraid of them. I was going to splash them with water, but your arrival was perfect timing.
“Thank you, Mr. Lewis.”
Duncan replied, “All that matters is that you’re alright. You can chase them out if they drop by the next time. Don’t waste your breath on them. You can’t reason with these people.”
Liberty could very well call the cops on Mrs. Brown and Chelsea if they vandalized the property. However, Mrs. Brown and Chelsea came to whine and borrow money. There was no reason for Liberty to call the authorities.
“Grandma May, Liberty, I should go back to work. Call me if you need me. I’ll let the person-in-charge know to tighten the security around here so this doesn’t happen again.”
Duncan came and went in a rush. He stayed for less than ten minutes.
Liberty had no idea that Grandma May was putting out the feelers on Duncan. After Duncan left with his security team, she said to Grandma May, “Mr. Lewis is such a nice landlord. I had my eye on this space not because of the high foot traffic, but because there are many offices including Lewis & Co. around. I should be able to make a living here. I’m glad I picked this place to open a breakfast diner.
“It’s not about profit for Mr. Lewis. At least, he cares for his tenants.”
Grandma May snickered.
Half the block belonged to Duncan. Yet, the other tenants had no clue who Duncan was, much less be under Duncan’s protection.
Grandma May knew that for a fact, but she did not say it out loud.
Duncan and Liberty did not have the hots for each other yet.
Grandma May intended to observe without giving her two cents.
Duncan returned to his office and called his best friend to complain. He said, “What’s your nana up to, Zack? The old lady can fight. Heck, she still got it. She can handle the two women herself. Why did she need my help?”
“Can you explain further? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why did my nana call you? Who did you meet?”
Zack was confused.
“Your sister-in-law’s former mother-in-law and sister-in-law went to the diner to cause a scene. Your nana called me for help. Zack, I have the feeling that your nana is possessed by my granny. I get this weird feeling when she looks at me.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.