"What else do you want besides water?"
Laurel was surprised at what Nicole said, countering, "I don't know. It must come to me. As a Green,
you're on call. Anyway, you don't work or earn money. Do you think you can just take anything for
granted?"
She sounded snarkier as she spoke.
Nicole was bigger than that and said to the servant beside her, "Serve her a glass of water."
At that, she left without saying another thing to Laurel.
She could tell she was not welcome here. Laurel would keep jerking her around and even use her to
humiliate the Dons.
She had no interest in defending the Dons or standing there waiting to be humiliated by Laurel.
Laurel was enraged by Nicole's arrogance and picked up the cup beside Mrs. Don, throwing it at
Nicole's back.
"How rude of you! I asked you to serve me water, but you had the audacity to let a servant do it. What's
the point of having you in my house?"
Nicole had just filled the cup with hot tea for Mrs. Don.
Nicole had never imagined Laurel would be so mad, so she didn't see that move coming, and the
teacup as well as the hot tea hit her back.
"Nicole!"
Mrs. Don cried out in alarm.
Nicole felt a burning pain in her back.
"Laurel, what have you done? How can you blame Nicole for what Mark did? Does Samuel know you
are out of your mind?"
Jason had trouble moving around, but his expression also changed.
Mrs. Don staggered to Nicole and asked with concern, "How is it? Does it hurt? Let's go. Grandma will
take you to the doctor."
As she spoke, she held Nicole's hand.
Nicole could feel the bones of her hand.
She remembered Mrs. Don's hands used to be full. It seemed she had suffered a lot from that incident.
Nicole was in a daze for a moment, then pulled out her hand, and said, "I'm fine. Thank you, Mrs. Don."
Tears welled up in Mrs. Don's eyes when she heard what Nicole called her.
She had no one to blame but herself for how things were between her and Nicole.
Nicole's back was killing her. She was too angry to pay attention to Mrs. Don but turned to look at
Laurel, asking word by word, "Do you find this entertaining?"
"Yes! It's been fun. What? Are you going to hit me?"
Laurel was fearless.
Nicole saw for the first time that Laurel was a real piece of work.
She smiled, "Do not assume I don't dare to hit you. You'd better think about the consequences before
you do anything out of line. You have hurt my back, and Samuel is going to lie on the same bed with
me tonight. Guess if he will ask me how I got this and if I will tell him the truth. You care so much about
how Samuel treats you, afraid he would walk away from you, but you forget a man can be changed by
what his woman tells him in bed. "
"Shameless! You bitch!"
In a fit, Laurel picked up something and threw it at Nicole again.
This time, Nicole dodged. Looking at Laurel's furious expression, she said coldly, "I'm a shameless
bitch, but I picked it up from you. I am only as good as my teacher. Don't worry. I won't treat this wound
so that Samuel can take a look when he comes back. I bet he will know how his good mother treats his
wife."
"Don't you dare?"
Laurel panicked.
She had thought Nicole was a pushover. Didn't she use to put up with all the bullying she got in the
Green's for three years? Why was she different now?
She actually wanted to complain to Samuel?
As if seeing Laurel through, Nicole said indifferently, "People change. I can't just let others push me
around all my life, right? Eight years ago, I was alone, so I chose to not speak up. However, now I'm
the mother of two. I have to protect my family. Do you think I'll still take all that crap? After what you
have done to me, l ought to treat you as my mother? Laurel, you're actually quite beautiful, but you
need to stop being so naïve."
With that, Nicole left.
Every step she took, her back hurt like hell.
Mrs. Don knew Nicole was having a hard time in the Green's because of Mark, based on the tension
between her and Laurel.
Mrs. Don stopped Nicole and said, "I know you wouldn't forgive me. I am also aware of all the mistakes
I have made, so you don't see me as your grandmother. I don't care about all that. I'm already in my
twilight years and just hope you are doing well."
"I am. Thank you."
Nicole put on a faint smile, but it wasn't sincere.
Mrs. Don regretted it, but it was too late.
A wounded heart was hard to heal.
She whispered, "I know you disdain the Dons, but I have to say if you find the Greens hard to live with,
our door is always open for you. Stand up for yourself if they blame you for things you never do."
"I will."
Nicole said firmly, "I will not leave the Green's because it is my choice. My children and husband are
here. Why would I leave? I will not eat dirt, because if I do, my children will also suffer. And that is the
last thing I want. Up till now, I have been fine without you Dons. So, don't concern yourself with me,
Mrs. Don. If you are here today because you are afraid I am suffering grievances in this house, then
you can rest assured. I will protect myself. Even if I can't, my husband will. Anyway, you can stop
worrying about me. Please go home."
After saying that, Nicole went back to her room without any hesitation.
Laurel was still cursing Nicole, but Nicole had enough of it.
Nicole was in a dilemma.
Laurel was Samuel's mother. Although she was not his real mother, she had been kind to him over the
years. Moreover, Samuel had deep feelings for her.
Now the old woman wanted to make things difficult for Nicole as her enemy. Nicole could complain to
Samuel, but it would be weird between them if she did it too many times.
Besides, Laurel's goal was to tear them apart.
Nevertheless, Nicole couldn't live here like some doormat.
The pain in her back was intense. She wanted to take off her clothes, but she felt every move she
made would peel off some of her skin.
Sweat oozed from her forehead, and she could only stop, panting.
She needed someone to help her.
But who could do that in this house?
Nicole smiled bitterly and scolded herself for being too stupid.
After eight years in the Green's, she failed to get close with anyone. What a fiasco! No wonder Laurel
didn't think highly of her.
Nicole picked up the phone and called Petty.
She didn't want Petty to know, but it didn't matter now. Laurel would definitely give her hell, so it would
be better for her to have Petty around.
Petty was shocked to receive her call but rushed over anyway.
When Petty arrived, Jason and Mrs. Don had left. Laurel was still sulking in the living room. When she
saw Petty, she was vexed.
"Who told you to come? Do you think anyone can come here uninvited? This is my turf! Get out of
here!"
Petty was a little surprised Laurel snapped, but she wasn't a servant here, so she said courteously,
"Sorry, Old Mrs. Green. I am here for Nicole. If you are not happy about this, you can work it out with
Mr. Green."
At that, Petty left Laurel to her fury and went to Nicole's bedroom.
"Mrs. Green, I'm Petty."
"Come in and close the door."
Nicole's voice came from the bedroom.
Petty opened the door and locked it. Then she saw Nicole's back was scalded and red.
"Mrs. Green, what's wrong with you?"
"It's fine. Help me take off my clothes. I can't do it by myself."
Nicole wanted to give it a laugh, but her back hurt when she attempted to do that, so her face twisted in
a grimace of pain.
Petty's eyes froze.
"Who did this?"
It occurred to her Laurel had been arrogant just now, so she couldn't help but ask, "Was it Laurel? Why
did she do it?"
"Stop asking. Hurry up and help me. Go over there and fetch a medical kit. Then please apply some
ointment over my back."
Those words confirmed Petty's guess.
She carefully took off Nicole's clothes, but Nicole trembled all over in agony when she did that.
Nicole felt this year was brimming with disasters. Her arm was yet to heal, but now her back was
injured. She really should go to a temple to pay her respects sometime.
Petty brought the medical kit and carefully helped her with the ointment.
Only then did Nicole let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Petty. If it's okay with you, please stay for a few days. I don't trust anyone around here."
Petty's nose went a little sore.
"Okay."
"What about the villa? Anything new?"
"No, it's just the Bushes came a few times to see if you were there. I told them you were helping Mr.
Green with the company. That's all."
Petty tidied up Nicole's room as she spoke.
Nicole leaned against the bed watching Petty and then sincerely thanked her.
"Mrs. Green, it's no big deal. This is what I should do."
Petty replied humbly but found Nicole sleeping.
Nicole looked exhausted.
Petty tiptoed over and covered her with a blanket before taking out the trash. However, as soon as she
opened the door, she saw Laurel standing in front of her. The old woman was staring at her with a
gloomy expression.
"Old Mrs. Green, please step aside."
Petty had problems with her, so her tone was not nice.
"Who are you to speak to me like that? This is my home. You came without my permission. Do you
believe I can have you arrested?"
"Of course you can. You can even wantonly hurt Nicole, not to mention a servant like me. However,
aren't you afraid God will punish you for what you have done?"
Petty's words infuriated Laurel.
"Someone, send her to the police station and say she stole from me!"
Petty tidied up Nicole's room as she spoke.
Nicole leaned against the bed watching Petty and then sincerely thanked her.
"Mrs. Green, it's no big deal. This is what | should do."
Petty replied humbly but found Nicole sleeping.
Nicole looked exhausted.
Petty tiptoed over and covered her with a blanket before taking out the trash. However, as soon as she
opened the door, she saw Laurel standing in front of her. The old woman was staring at her with a
gloomy expression.
"Old Mrs. Green, please step aside."
Petty had problems with her, so her tone was not nice.
"Who are you to speak to me like that? This is my home. You came without my permission. Do you
believe | can have you arrested?"
"Of course you can. You can even wantonly hurt Nicole, not to mention a servant like me. However,
aren't you afraid God will punish you for what you have done?"
Petty's words infuriated Laurel.
"Someone, send her to the police station and say she stole from me!"
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