As she faced Irene, Alice smirked.
"My dear sister, are you finally moving out?"
Irene responded with an eye roll and a forced grin.
"It's been ages since we last met. Still addicted to asking pointless questions? Is the sky blue?"
The comment made Alice fume inwardly. But she quickly swallowed her frustration and adopted a sweet expression.
"I was only trying to show a little care. Must you always misjudge me?"
Care?
What a joke. All she wanted was to provoke her.
Ivan, wearing his usual impassive look, cut into the exchange. He addressed Irene, "Mrs. Marshall, it's time for your departure. Mr. Marshall is returning soon."
Irene's lips twitched. She gestured toward Alice and replied to Ivan, "I have no problem leaving, but there's a rabid stray in my way. I'm just worried it might bite."
Ivan had no response to that.
Alice began to fake tears.
"Irene, I heard you were finalizing your divorce today. I was genuinely concerned you'd be upset, so I left work early to check on you. How… how could you say something like that? I'm your sister."
"Shut it! I don't recall having a mutt for a sister."
Irene promptly stepped away from Alice and turned toward Ivan again.
"Ivan, shall we go?"
Ivan felt a pounding headache begin and lost his composure briefly. With no other alternative, he turned to Alice and said,
"Miss Jenkins, please allow us to leave."
Alice bit her lip. Her eyes burned with fury, but her bangs hid them from view.
"Ivan, an untrained mongrel doesn't understand human speech," Irene said mockingly.
Alice was furious. She balled her fists tightly and shot a glare at Irene.
Seeing Alice struggle to keep her anger in check, Irene tilted her head and smiled condescendingly, provoking her further. That smug look enraged Alice even more.
'What the hell is going on? Irene used to be meek and always thankful to me. When did she become so defiant?'
"Miss Jenkins," Ivan called out again, irritation seeping into his voice.
Alice pressed her lips together, masking her growing doubts.
"Ivan, I'm not saying I don't want my sister to go. Lennon actually asked me to come over and monitor everything."
Both Irene and Ivan were caught off guard by that.
"Lennon knew I was coming, so he instructed me to ensure Irene was packed and gone. He reminded me that per the divorce agreement, she's forbidden from taking anything belonging to the Marshall family. I'm only here to see that she honors that deal."
Alice eyed the suitcase next to Irene.
"So, Irene, would you mind opening that suitcase? I need to confirm you haven't taken anything you shouldn't have."
Irene furrowed her brows.
"It's just a few clothes. I didn't pack anything from the Marshalls."
Alice seized the suitcase, replying, "That's not your call. If you're not hiding anything, then why hesitate to let me look inside?"
She placed the suitcase on the floor and flipped it open.
Inside was a disorganized pile of clothing. Nothing of value appeared to be inside.
Alice clenched her jaw. She hadn't expected Irene to be telling the truth.
Still unwilling to let it go, Alice began digging through the clothes more aggressively, as though she wouldn't stop until she uncovered proof Irene had taken something.
But the contents were as Irene said—just clothes and cosmetics. Yet Alice continued rummaging for over ten minutes.
"Are you finished yet?" Irene asked coolly, looking down at her.
"I'm just following Lennon's instructions. It's best to be thorough," Alice murmured.
"Suit yourself. Go ahead and keep checking. I don't even want those clothes anymore."
Irene gave a slight shake of her head. The bruises on her body were still sore. She didn't want to waste another moment on Alice or wait for Lennon to return and lash out again.
Having said her piece, she walked past Alice toward the elevator and pressed the button. Ivan followed behind.
Ding!
Moments later, the elevator reached the third floor, and the doors slid open slowly.
Just as Irene stepped forward, a sudden chill made her pause. The air seemed to grow colder.
The first thing she noticed was a pair of polished leather shoes. Looking up, she met Lennon's cold, expressionless face.
"Mr. Marshall," Ivan greeted quickly, bowing slightly.
"Irene, have you already forgotten what I told you this morning?"
Lennon's gaze was sharp, his tone laced with irritation.
The moment she saw him, Irene remembered him choking her earlier that day. She stiffened, apprehensive of his next move.
Standing upright, she responded, "No, I haven't."
"Oh, really? Then why are you still here?" Lennon questioned, moving toward her.
Irene backed away until she felt the wall behind her.
She shut her eyes momentarily before forcing herself to meet his gaze.
"Ask Alice. I was leaving, but she showed up and delayed me. That's why I—"
Before she could finish, Alice cut in.
"How can you lie like that?" she asked, her eyes welling with tears.
"I'm not lying!"
Irene was silently cursing her.
If it hadn't been for Alice, she'd have been long gone and wouldn't have crossed paths with Lennon.
Alice continued, her voice shaking. "Lennon, I wasn't trying to stall Irene. I was only doing what you asked—checking her luggage. I was afraid she might take something of yours. My sister lies as easily as she breathes. I didn't expect her to do it again."
Lennon's expression darkened further at Alice's words, recalling everything Irene had done.
"Do you think I won't end you right here?"
Without warning, he grabbed her neck, slamming her against the wall.
The move caught her off guard. She instinctively reached for his wrist, but the pain at the back of her head left her dazed.
"Le—Lennon!" she gasped.
"How many times are you going to test my limits?" he growled.
Her grip on consciousness started to weaken. She couldn't break his hold.
Seeing this unfold, Ivan couldn't stay quiet. He rushed forward.
"Mr. Marshall, if anything happens to Mrs. Marshall, the board will use it against you. It could jeopardize your equity strategy."
"Stay out of it!" Lennon bellowed.
His knuckles were white from the intensity of his grip.
Ivan felt helpless. As much as he wanted to intervene, he knew arguing further would be dangerous.
Irene didn't want to die. With the last of her energy, she pushed at Lennon's hand.
Finally able to breathe a little, she locked eyes with him; hers were bloodshot.
"If I die here, I die as your wife—a Marshall. When you die, they'll bury you beside me, and I'll torment you for eternity!"
She choked out the words, her face flushed from the lack of air.
Her strength was fading. Her vision blurred. Slowly, her awareness began to fade.