CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

DALLAS

"So should we leave now?" Oliver aked.

"I'm gonna go grab some stuffs inside. Give me a few minutes."

"Let's leave now. I'll buy you everythimg you need."

I chuckled.
"I get it. You have a lot of money to throw around." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm just going to grab a few necessities. It will only take a few minutes."

"I just don't want to face your crazy sister." he muttered under his breath.

I let out a small laugh.
"So this is about Sylvie?"

"I'm just very wary of wild animals. She is a wild coyote." he mumbled.

"You should stay in the car then. I'll be back soon." I flashed him a smile before getting down from the car.

I heard loud voices arguing as I got to the porch. It was the twins' voice. I prayed whatever they were arguing about doesn't involve me. They went silent as I stepped inside. I ignored them and continued towards the stairs when Sylvie stood in my way. I inhaled sharply.

"Why are you standing in my way?"

"Why did Oliver shove me off like that but held on to your hand?"

"I don't know. Maybe you should ask him yourself. He is right outside." My voice was a bit louder than usual. I wasn't in the mood for their tantrums at all.

Sylvie gasped.
"How dare you talk to me in that manner?"

"She has grown some wings now that she is working for Oliver. Who do you think you are?" Stephanie added, her voice dripping of disdain.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I simply answered Sylvie's question." I shrugged.

Sylvie scoffed. She advanced towards me trying to appear intimidating. Her attempt was laughable.
"Listen, I don't know what you think of yourself now that you work at the Kang's residence, but you're nothing but a filthy, dirty maid. And I wouldn't stand you talking to me like that. I'm going to let it slide this one time. If you try this again, I swear I'll-" she sucked in a breath.

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.
"You'll do what?"

"I'll send you out of this house." She blurted.

I snorted, then bursted into an uncontrollable laughter. Lucien is really the father of this girl, no DNA needed. I doubt there are any brain cells in her head. And even if they were, I was sure they were dead cells.

"Stop laughing." Sylvie yelled. She moved closer to me and grabbed a fistful of my hair. I was already getting riled up but I didn't want to lose my temper.

'You're this close to getting what you want, Dallas. Calm down and don't lose your temper.'

"If you don't let go of my hair right this minute Sylvie, I swear you won't have fingers anymore." I said through gritted teeth.

"Let her go, Sylvie. You know she is crazy," Stephanie said, a hint of fear visible in her voice.

Crazy is right. They both know I could easily break their bones within the twinkle of an eye. I was only holding back because of their father. The twins have never been stupid enough to attack me physically. Well, until now.

Sylvie was stuborn and didn't let me go. I guess a few years of cleaning after them courtesy their father's orders had made Sylvie forget how I was, growing up.

Forgive me, mum. I really did my best to get your properties back but I just can't control my anger at the moment.

I sucked in a breath. I made to grab Sylvie's arm and twist it backwards when-

"Let her go, Sylvie." Lucien's voice came.

"But Dad-"

"Let her go!" He bit out.

Sylvie finally let go of my hair. I glared at her hard. I flipped my hair and walked angrily up the stairs. I could hear their hushed arguments but I couldn't care less.

I slammed the door to my room shut. I picked up a potrait of my mum from the nightstand, a few clothes, some other things I know I might need. I threw them all in a bag. It didn't look like I would be returning here soon so I wanted to pack enough things.

I heard the door creaked opened and Lucien walked in, his eyes lingered around. I continued what I was doing and pretended he wasn't there.

"You're packing so much clothes. Where are you off to?" He asked.

"To work."

"You should quit your job at the Kang's mansion."

My head snapped to his direction.
"What did you just say?"

"You heard me."

Deep breaths, Dallas. Deep breath.

"Why?"

"You both seem so close."

"And?"

"Dallas, Oliver Kang doesn't touch anyone. It's public knowledge. He never even shook any of his business partners. How come he held the hand of someone like you?" He stared at me with disdain.

"Sylvie touched him few minutes ago." I shrugged.

It was public knowledge that Oliver doesn't touch anyone, but not everyone knows what happens when he does. The public just assumes he is a spoilt brat who thinks everyone is beneath him. No one knows about his allergic reactions.

"Which is why Sylvie will be working for him. I'm going to discuss with Mr Kang about the transition. You are going back to your old job." he said.

My mouth hung open as I listened to him spurt out stupid words. I clicked my tongue.

"And what makes you think Oliver would agree to this?"
I intentionally referred to Oliver in an informal way. Lucien's jaws flexed earning a smirk from me.

"I'm going to talk to him. I'm sure he'll understand and listen to me."

I let out a chuckle.
"Are you serious right now?"

"I'm very serious, Dallas."

"I'm not going to quit." I said with finality in my tone.

"Well, if you are not quitting, then you should move out of my house."

I scoffed in disbelief.
"I'm not moving out. It's my house."

"Your mother left it in my name so it's mine. You either quit your job or you move out of my house."

"You can't possibly do this to me." I said, a tiny crack in my voice.

"Oh I can, and I will if you don't do as I say."

Lucien knows how much this house meant to me. He also knows about my goal to contest the will. He always mocked me for that. He uses the house against me everytime he wants to ask something from me and I do what he wants. But quitting my job with Oliver at the moment is like losing a life opportunity. Oliver already contacted his lawyers. I should be able to contest the will soon. I would be able to get everything back including this house. Moving out now won't mean shit when I win the case.

I stared straight into Lucien's eyes. He smirked probably expecting me to succumb to his wish like always.
"I'll move out." I said.

I enjoyed seeing his face fell and his expression turn solemn. He stared at me in disbelief.
"I'm never going to allow you come back here if you move out." he threatened.

I ignored him and continued packing my things. I brought out a bigger bag from underneath the bed to put my stuffs into. Lucien kept ranting but I didn't even hear a word he said. I packed all the photos of mum and I, her cooking recipes, some of her jewelries that Lucien hadn't sold off, her favorite book. I took everything.

I raised my head when I heard Lucien's retreating figure. A tear fell from my eyes but I quickly wiped it away.

It's fine. I'll get the house back. It's totally fine.

My body didn't seem to get that message as tears flowed freely from my eyes. Lucien had always thretened to send me out, but I had never imagined that I would have to move out of the house without fufilling my goal.

I wiped my tears off and packed all of my remaining stuffs. I took one last look at my room. The room I grew up in. My mother and I decorated this room together when I came home from Seoul after my first high school holiday. There were so many memories in this room. All of it came rushing at once and it made my chest tighten. I needed to leave.

I picked up my backpack and dragged the big bag out of the room. I dragged the bag down the stairs. Lucien and the twins were in the living room. I ignored them and continued dragging my bag towards the door.

"Think nabout your decision, once you walk out of that door, you are never coming back." Lucien said.

Tears stung at the corner of my eyes threatening to fall. I didn't turn back. I couldn't. If I did I would break. I didn't want to break. I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the house. The door shut with a soft click behind me.