Chapter 4
As the broom descended, a cold glint flashed in Matthew’s eyes. He hadn't even settled the score with Jennifer for abusing Lorraine, and she dared to lay hands on him! He snatched the broom, pulling it forcefully. "Go ahead, then!" he challenged. Jennifer was yanked forward, stumbling several steps before falling face-first to the ground. Her face landed squarely in a pile of uncleaned dog feces. She looked up, a few pieces clinging to her face. The foul odor overwhelmed her. Instinctively, she wiped her face, only to smear the feces further.
Rage flared. "Matthew Grant! You dared snatch the broom? You've crossed the line! I'll teach you a lesson!" She lunged at him again. A chilling glint returned to Matthew's eyes as he raised the broom. A serious fight seemed imminent. Terror contorted Jennifer's features; she froze. She hadn't feared Matthew before, believing her status as his mother-in-law gave her leverage. He'd always been respectful. But his clear intention to strike her instilled genuine fear.
Xavier pulled her back. "Even I can't win against him, Mom. You'll only humiliate yourself." Jennifer, clinging to her perceived authority, shouted, "He wouldn't dare! I'm his mother-in-law!" Xavier exclaimed, "He's not the same person, Mom! Didn't you see what he did to me?" Jennifer's delusion shattered. She saw Matthew, broom in hand, his eyes gleaming with malice, his bearing intimidating. She remembered his recent release from prison. Fear surged as she considered how prison could change a person. She shrank back.
Matthew approached, his gaze unwavering. "You were my mother-in-law. Unreasonable, domineering, and troublesome, yet I endured you. Now Tessa and I are divorced, you are nothing to me! How dare you?" He raised the broom, the threat palpable. Jennifer shrank back, losing her footing and falling for a second time. Unable to rise, she covered her head, crying incoherently, "Please don't hit me… I'm sorry! I'll never cause trouble again… I'll never touch Lorraine again!" Silence followed. Opening her eyes, she found Matthew gone.
Holding Lorraine, Matthew reassured her, "I'll protect you, Lori. No one will hurt you again." Lorraine, her eyes wide and innocent, asked, "Will you protect Grandpa and Grandma too?" Sorrow washed over Matthew, understanding her witnessed mistreatment of Lillian and Stanley. Gently caressing her head, he said firmly, "I'll protect them as well." Lorraine hugged him, kissing his cheek. "I knew it! TV shows are right! All dads are heroes!" Matthew's guilt intensified. Neglected for three years, she still saw him as a hero. A burning desire to atone fueled him. "Is there anything you want, Lori?" he asked softly. He was determined to do anything for her happiness.
After a moment, Lorraine tilted her head. "I wish you would take me to kindergarten. I want everyone to know I have a dad." Matthew was surprised by her simple wish. "You got it, Lori! I'll take you every day."
The next day dawned sunny and breezy. Matthew carried Lorraine to kindergarten. At the entrance, he kissed her, reluctant to leave. Gently setting her down, he said, "Time to go inside, Lori." Lorraine tugged at his clothes. "Please don't go yet, Dad! Wait! I want to show you to everyone!" Matthew glanced at the time—almost 8:00 am. He was supposed to meet Tessa at the courthouse for their divorce. But for Lorraine, he'd be late. He crouched, smiling. "Alright. If anyone asks my job, say I'm a doctor, okay?"
Meanwhile, Tessa was at the courthouse. Finding Matthew absent, she reached for her phone to call him, only to realize she didn't have his number. Worry gnawed at her. Had he regretted signing the divorce agreement? She looked at the agreement, her expression resolute. "It's too late for regrets! If you try to back out, I'll make your life hell!" Ten minutes passed. She started her car, intending to find him. She would divorce him, even if he didn't want it.
A cab pulled up. Matthew stepped out. Tessa angrily threw her keys onto the passenger seat. "What are you playing at, Matthew? I'm the president of a company; my time is valuable! I've waited an hour!" Matthew, happy after meeting Lorraine's classmates, was instantly angered by her outburst. "I was busy this morning," he replied curtly.
"Busy? What important business could an ex-convict have?" Tessa scoffed. "I'm president of Evergreen Group! Are you as busy as I am?" Matthew retorted, "Oh yes, the company is all you need, right? You don't want Lorraine, you don't even drop her off at kindergarten. I'm different! I take my daughter to kindergarten!"
Kindergarten? Tessa was stunned, forgetting that. Fury washed over her, making her face ashen. Was he implying she'd abandoned Lorraine? "Even if you were taking her, everyone's there by 8:00 am! You're stalling because you're scared of divorce! We're adults! This childish behavior won't work!"
Matthew, infuriated by her accusations—he was late because Lorraine wanted to introduce him to a late classmate—said nothing. He walked toward the courthouse, wanting only to finalize the divorce. Tessa yelled, "Hold it! I know what you're thinking. You think you've hit the jackpot with me—a beautiful, successful president—right? You're afraid you won't find anyone better, so you're avoiding the divorce. You can't handle the truth, so you're running away!"
As Matthew entered, he heard her self-righteous words. He turned, roaring, "Tessa Sanders! I provided you with everything! Don't get ahead of yourself! Didn't you want a divorce? Get in here and let's get this over with!" He walked toward the clerk's office, his mind filled with the ungrateful woman who abandoned her own daughter. He couldn't wait to sever all ties.