254 Chapter 254: Did You Sell My Home (1/2)

Laurence frowned at his daughter. She was no longer his baby. His baby was dead, and she had been replaced by this thorn in his side – and it hurt him deeply. ”I don't know what is going on here,” he hissed, ”but I am checking out right now!”

Laurence nearly cried when they arrived at the Flinch House. Not only had he been homesick, but he was surprised by all of the changes that had been made in his absence. Even Alice was astonished. They had just moved a few days ago, but the new owners had already made a plethora of changes.

Alice glances nervously and Khloe. They had passed the point of no return, and they both knew that, whatever happens next, it would not be good. Khloe looked at her father and said, ”Wow, the buyer must be an old man. His style is really quaint and simple. Their surname is also Finch. It is quite a coincidence.”

”Did you sell my home?” Laurence wondered.

”I did,” Khloe replied. ”I am sorry. It seemed to be the right move at the moment. Only in retrospect can I see that it wasn't. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn't find the words.

Laurence was holding a cane, and his hands were shaking. He took two steps forward, and he looked as if he was about to cry – but he remained silent.

”Dad,” Khloe said, ”let me ring the doorbell. I will tell them we are the former homeowners. I am sure they won't mind if we go in and have one last look.”

”Forget it,” Laurence sighed. ”It's late now. Let's not disturb them. What you've done to me is most heinous, but I can see clearly that it cannot be undone. Please, show me where we live now?”

”Mother and I rent an apartment,” Khloe stuttered. ”It is nothing special.”

”Never mind,” Laurence said. ”I am a resilient man. Take me there so that I may begin acclimating myself to this new lifestyle.”

When Laurence saw the red paint on the door, he lost his temper for the first time, and he slapped Khloe across the face. It was one thing to make bad business decisions and lose – he understood that every investment came with a risk. What he had no respect for, though, were people who made shady deals with shady loan sharks. He would often say that such a person always gets what is coming to them in the end. Now though, that person was his daughter, so his words stuck in his throat and fueled his rage instead.

”I used to think that Kylie was the black sheep of this family,” he hissed, ”but I was wrong. You are the black sheep. How did this happen?”

Alice began to cry, and she told him everything. Once the tale was told, Khloe looked at her parents and said, ”Maybe we shouldn't go in…”

Alice looked at her and asked her what she meant.

Khloe looked at the floor and said, ”It is worse inside…”

When Alice saw the state of the apartment, she nearly passed out, and Khloe had to steady her to keep her from falling. Above all, it was the shit on the walls that hurt her the most, and she began to babble. ”Somebody shit all over my home,” she cried, ”They turned my home into a toilet. What will the bridge club think? Oh… my… god… What will my knitting circle think?”

Once Laurence found a clean piece of wall, he sat down and leaned his back against it. He covered his face with his hands, and he began to laugh. ”This is too funny,” he gasped as he motioned for Alice to sit beside him. ”Don't cry. We have been humbled; that is all. Wipe your eyes and give thanks to the god that you are so adamant exists. Doesn't the bible say, ”Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength? After this,” he motioned with his hands, ”you should have super strength!”

Listening to Laurence mock her religion, Alice was filled with rage. Even as she continued to cry, she began to hit Laurence. ”Shut up!” She shouted. ”Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

Laurence quit teasing her, but he couldn't stop laughing.