?Chapter 1148:


    After a long, yful day, Joy hadpletely run out of steam. She dozed peacefully in his arms, her little fingers curled like petals.


    “Mr. Flynn!” Melba let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “Thank goodness you’re back! You’d better get in there—someone’s stirring up trouble again!”


    From the open doorway, the shrill screeches of a furious woman sliced through the air like broken ss. Eric’s face darkened, jaw tightening.


    “Melba,” he said, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Joy. He gently passed the sleeping child into her arms. “Take Joy downstairs for a little while.”


    “Got it!”


    Melba nodded, cradling Joy close. She could read between the lines—Eric wanted to shield Joy from whatever storm was about to break.


    Without another word, she hurried downstairs.


    Eric stepped into the apartment, his expression hardening.


    “Ah!” came a furious shriek.


    Hadley had flipped Noreen onto her stomach and was holding her down with unflinching strength.


    Her palm was nted firmly against Noreen’s cheek, pinning her face to the cold floor.


    “Noreen!” Hadley’s eyes burned like wildfire. “Did you think I would stay silent forever? You think I wouldn’t fight back? You’re old, Noreen—don’t push your luck! The only reason I didn’t hit you before was because of Brady. But you… you’re venom wrapped in skin. How someone like you raised someone like Brady is beyond me!”


    With Brady in mind, Hadley couldn’t bear the thought of really hurting his mother.


    Letting go with a final shove, Hadley growled, “Lay a finger on me again, and I swear I won’t hold back next time—not even for Brady’s sake.”


    “Are you threatening me now?” Noreen gasped, staggering upright. Her eyes were wild, rabid with rage. “I’ll tear you apart!”


    Just then, Eric stormed in, fury radiating off him like a heatwave. Without a second’s hesitation, he yanked Noreen away and shoved her back.


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    “Is this how you and your daughter behave? Like rabid animals? If you can’t act like decent human beings, get out! Even wild animals have more manners than the two of you!”


    “What did you just say?” Noreen stood frozen, fury surging within her. “Who do you think you are, speaking so brazenly?”


    She squinted at Eric, piecing things together. “Wait a minute… You’re Eric Flynn?”


    Eric didn’t dignify her recognition with a response. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he sent Noreen stumbling back.


    Noreen staggered, nearly hitting the floor. She caught herself, and then whirled on Eric, her face twisted with fury.


    “You’ve got some nerve!” she spat. Her finger jabbed toward Hadley like a knife. “You’re with that woman? Her? She is nothing but a curse! A walking disaster! Anyone who gets close to her is begging for death!”


    “Noreen, what was that?” Hadley quivered, her fists tightening, her eyes tinged with red.


    “Did you not get it?” Noreen shot Hadley a venomous look. “You were responsible for your mother’s death, and then your grandmother’s! Now you’re after my Brady! And isn’t your daughter dying from some disease?”


    Noreen erupted into cruelughter, her voice sharp and mocking. “Oh, Hadley, you’re a walking jinx! A ma for misfortune!”


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