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“I brought her into this house,” Griffin stepped forward, voice sharp. “My house, Janet.”
And then—SLAP! His hand connected with her face. Janet stumbled back, eyes wide with shock.
Her head lifted in shock, but Dante’s face remained cold, and Griffin was raging.
“You’re living inmyhouse,” Griffin seethed. “You don’t get to decide who’s welcome here. Get out of here! How dare you make that child go through something like this? Have you lost your damn mind?”
Janet’s face paled.
“Until you apologize to Anya,” Dante’s voice was dangerously calm, “and untilsheforgives you, I won’t have anything to do with you.” He turned around without sparing Janet another glance and stormed out of the house.
Janet’s body jerked, coming out of the shock.
She gasped, immediately chasing after him. “How can you say that? I’m your mother! Are you really going to do this to me—for that girl? This much disrespect?!”
But Dante didn’t stop. He walked out as her voice turned to screeches behind him. He didn’t look back.
“You! Leave this house within an hour,” Griffin snapped at Janet, his tone steely. “Neither Anya nor Dante will forgive you for what you did. And I can’t keep someone like you under my roof anymore. Get out. Right now.”
Janet broke into tears.
“How can you say that, Dad? I’m your daughter-in-law! You’re throwing me out like I’m nothing? I’ve lived here my whole life! Where am I even supposed to go?”
Griffin’s eyes were void of sympathy. “Is that my problem?” His voice dropped to a disgusted whisper. “Get out before I call security. I’ll make sure they throw you out with your bags. You’ll never step into this house again. You’ve dirtied it enough with your cruelty. I’mdisgustedby you, Janet. You’re a huge disappointment. How can you be so blind with greed that you’d stoop this low?”
Janet’s whole body trembled, frozen in place.
But as Griffin had ordered, within the hour, she was thrown out, and banned from setting foot inside Kingsley Manor ever again.
***
Dante stormed out of his car, his strides long and furious as he marched toward Anya’s new apartment. Rain crashed down in thick sheets, drenching him instantly, but he didn’t care. The burning rage inside him was louder than the thunder.
He grabbed the door handle and shoved it open, the force of his rage echoing in the slam behind him. The apartment door was unlocked—carelessly so—but he didn’t care. The rain clung to him, water dripping from his hair, soaking through his clothes, but the storm inside him burned hotter.
Anya rushed out of her room at the sound, alarm flashing across her face. Her eyes widened as she saw him, her breath catching in her throat.
“Dante? What happened?” Her brows drew together in confusion, concern flickering in her gaze as she took in his drenched state.
He didn’t speak at first. He just stormed toward her, eyes wild with emotion. Grabbing her shoulders, he snatched her closer to himself.
“Why didn’t you tell me what my mother did to you?!” he snapped. “When you left my house, why didn’t you say anything?”
Anya stilled. Her entire body stiffened, her lips parted slightly. “…You know about it?”
His jaw clenched. “I saw everything,” he said, voice rough. “On a video. Every damn second of it.”
She tensed. A flicker of shame crossed her face as she looked away. “It was already over. I didn’t want to make it worse,” she murmured.
“Anya!” he exploded, eyes blazing. “This wasn’t some petty fight—she humiliated you! Hurt you! And you still thought you needed to stay silent?”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she said softly, placing a calming hand on his arm. “I never blamed you. Or Grandpa Griffin. But your mom—”
“You don’t have to forgive her,” he cut in sharply, eyes darkening. “I’m not asking for that. I’d never ask that of you. She crossed every damn line. I turned a blind eye to her actions all my life because I thought it didn’t matter. I could afford all the money she ever needed. But this?” His voice cracked. “What she did to you… is unforgivable.”
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a desperate hug. Her face pressed into his neck as he whispered into her hair, “I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. Not even a little. Not ever.”
***