Karen had waited in the living room for half an hour, but Nina had not shown up. She urged the cleaner impatiently, "Call her again and see when she's coming back!"

The house cleaner felt helpless. She lifted the cup of tea that Karen had rejected and replied, "Mrs. Mallory said she'd be back right after her meeting. The meeting might not even be over yet. Please be patient."

Karen heard her repeatedly addressing Nina as 'Mrs. Mallory' and felt annoyed.

Nina had not even gained recognition from the Mallory family, so why should she be called Mrs. Mallory?

While she was still fuming with anger and contemplating, a voice came from the doorway. "Sorry, I was in a meeting."

It was Nina's voice.

Karen straightened her posture, putting on an air of sophistication. She gave Nina a sidelong glance and said, "Hmph, a meeting? With that lousy job of yours, how much money can you really make? In the end, it's all Percy's money you're spending, right?"

Nina furrowed her brows. Before Percy went on a business trip, he had warned her that Karen might come here to cause trouble.

Karen was clearly in a bad mood these days. She would likely take it out on anyone she could, with Nina being the primary target.

Nina knew very well why she was the preferred target. Percy was away, and Karen was displeased with her. She knew Karen would seek her out to vent her frustrations when Percy was not around.

At the same time, Percy could not hide his business trip schedule from Karen because she would get him to do things for her.

"Thank you for your hard work. You may get off work now," Nina said to the house cleaner. What she said earlier was also meant for the cleaning lady.

However, Karen took it upon herself to respond. Nina did not bother explaining further to avoid making Karen more agitated.

Karen did not consider Nina a part of the Mallory family, so Nina did not feel the need to show her respect. That was also what Percy had told her.

However, Nina did not want to offend Karen either. Otherwise, it would make things difficult for Percy later.

"Alright, Mrs. Mallory. Let me place this teacup in the kitchen and then head off," replied the house cleaner.

The house cleaner had a negative impression of Karen. As she recalled how much Karen did not like Nina being addressed as Mrs. Mallory, she deliberately called her that in front of Karen. She then walked into the kitchen. She placed the cup in the dishwasher and left for the day.

Karen was so furious that she almost stomped her feet in anger. She believed that anyone associated with Nina, that bitch, was rude and lacked manners. No matter how she explained, they just would not listen—as though they were brainless.

Nina turned to look at Karen, who was sitting on the opposite sofa, and asked, "Madam Mallory, Percy is on a business trip today and isn't in A City."

"I know." Karen stared at her with a cold expression on her face. "Why? Wouldn't I know where my son went?"

Nina raised an eyebrow. If Percy did not deliberately inform Karen, she probably would not have known.

However, Nina was not foolish enough to say something that would provoke Karen.

Percy did not listen to his mother's words and married Nina against Karen's will. Karen was already quite unhappy about that. If she found out that she usually would not be able to know Percy's whereabouts, she would definitely throw a tantrum.

Nina did not say anything more. Karen came here looking for trouble, and Nina knew it. Thus, she waited for Karen to continue. Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

"Cat got your tongue?" Karen could not help but glare at her when she noticed Nina was being quiet.

Nina shook her head. "If you have something to say, just say it. I still need to go back to work later."

"Work?" Karen laughed as though she had just heard a big joke. "Are you still pretending to work? Are you trying to gain Percy's sympathy this way? Have some shame!"

"How is working to earn my own money shameful?" asked Nina. She really wanted to ask Karen if it was not her past actions that were truly shameless?

What Karen had experienced before was quite similar to what Nina had been forced to endure in the past.

However, Karen would not sympathize with her. Instead, she would be happy if things were not going well between her and Percy.

Nina felt helpless facing such a mother-in-law.

Since Karen refused to acknowledge her as a daughter-in-law, Nina would not acknowledge her as her mother-in-law either.

"All you do is put on a show. I wonder how long you can keep Percy's attention with that act. Nina, let me tell you, the day will come when you'll have to leave with nothing. I'll make sure you regret every bit of it!" warned Karen. She had always thought that Nina was together with Percy for the money.

Therefore, she believed that this kind of threat would be effective.

"Yeah, whatever." Nina found it boring. Karen thought she was with Percy for money, but Nina could not be bothered to explain herself. She would let Karen continue thinking that.

Karen narrowed her eyes unhappily. "What's with that attitude? You think you've got Percy wrapped around your finger?"

Nina furrowed her brows as she listened to Karen. "Let me tell you, as long as the Mallory family refuses to recognize you as our daughter-in-law, Percy will eventually abandon you for the sake of the Mallory family. Temporary choices don't mean anything. Don't get too comfortable."

"Madam Mallory, I'm quite busy with work today. If you're here to say these things to me, then let time be the judge. I have no regrets about my choices. Whatever you say won't make me afraid. If there's nothing else, please leave," Nina gestured with a dismissal.

With Karen here, she really could not go back to work at the office.

After all, Karen's mental state was unstable. If she went crazy, she could smash things around.

Even though Percy had plenty of money, every decoration here was a joint effort between her and Percy. If the things got damaged, she would be heartbroken.

After all, it was their efforts.

Nina's words provoked Karen.

She recalled the experience of being asked to leave Crawford Manor and now, she was being asked to leave by Nina...

On what grounds did they think they could ask her to leave?

Karen frowned, her anger flaring up. Suddenly, she stood up in an instant and slapped Nina.

Nina was not as quick as Luca. She took a solid slap, which turned her head sideways. She felt like she was in a dream.

Karen actually slapped her!

Nina looked at her in disbelief.

"Hmph, do you think I won't dare to do anything to you just because you have that fragile legal relationship with Percy? The place you're living in now was also bought with the Mallory family's money. Get out!" Karen wanted to sweep Nina out the door.

Nina took a deep breath. Considering the state Karen was in, she turned around, endured the pain on her face, walked into a room, and locked the door.

Karen was left puzzled by her actions. She went over and knocked on the door. "Bitch, get the hell out of there!"

The banging on the door continued, but Nina did not open it. Instead, she took out her phone.

Karen was wild with rage as she kicked the door, but it remained solid and closed.

She briskly came to the door of the house and pushed it open. A man was standing at the door, smoking.

The man jumped when he saw Karen come out. He instinctively threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped it out. "Madam, are you leaving?"

"Leaving? Come inside with me," Karen looked at him disapprovingly for throwing the cigarette on the ground.

She did not like smelling cigarette smoke. He knew he would be driving her later, and yet he was smoking now. The car would be filled with the smell later.

The man was relieved that she did not scold him for smoking, but he sensed that something must have happened inside. It was probably a conflict between Karen and Percy's wife.