Chapter 125

"Where's my money?" Clara White glared at Jack White, her sharp eyes like daggers.

Jack stole a glance at Luna and Iris standing nearby, cursing inwardly at why these girls hadn't left yet. With outsiders present, his usual tricks to placate his mother wouldn't work.

Clara followed her son's gaze, her expression darkening further. "Why are you looking at them? I asked you a question! That was my life savings—not a single penny less!" She knew her son too well—she could predict his every move.

Luna and Iris stood their ground. Luna smirked inwardly; this drama was her doing, and she wasn't about to miss the show.

Jack wiped the sweat from his brow. "Mom, your hospital bills and medicine cost a fortune. The money's all gone..." His voice trailed off. The family savings had been drained by Maya, and now he was counting on his mother's funds to bail them out.

"All of it?" Clara sneered. She had only been hospitalized for a week, and the nurse had mentioned the bill was barely over two hundred. She had given him six hundred. How dare he try to cheat her!

"Jack, Ethan told me the hospital bill was just over two hundred. Where's the other four hundred? Spit it out!" She slammed her hand on the table. "Or I'll call the mayor and have your whole family thrown out! This house belongs to me and your father!"

Jack panicked. "Mom, we really don't have it! Maya blew through everything, and we were fined a hundred. Ethan’s getting married soon, and we don’t even have the dowry—"

"Enough excuses!" Clara cut him off. "Give me two hundred now. Starting today, you’ll pay me fifteen a month for living under my roof and eating my food!"

Jack’s eyes widened. Fifteen a month? That was a hundred and eighty a year! That would bleed him dry!

"Mom, think of your grandson—"

"My grandson?" Clara scoffed. "Which one of them visited me when I was lying in that shack waiting to die? Listen here—if you don’t pay up, I’ll report you to the commune!"

Jack shot to his feet, fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked. She was pushing him to the brink!

Clara leaned back leisurely. "Tell your wife I want wheat noodles for lunch, with two poached eggs and extra salt in the broth. I’ve been drinking cornmeal porridge for days—my mouth tastes like dirt!"

Jack gritted his teeth and turned away. He couldn’t afford to move out yet—he had no choice but to endure.

In the yard, he saw his wife, Fanny, sitting on a stool wiping tears. His temper flared. "Didn’t you hear? The old woman wants noodles! Get moving! From now on, you’d better serve her well, or I’ll skin you alive!"

Fanny sprang up, nails raking across his face. "You heartless bastard! I’ve slaved for this family, and you dare raise a hand at me? Go ahead, kill me! See if my brothers don’t tear you apart!"

Jack’s cheek burned. He struck back with a slap. "Then get a divorce! Go tell your brothers how you abused your mother-in-law!"

Fanny instantly deflated. If word got back to her family, she’d never live it down.