Chapter 244

The midday sun streamed through the window as Luna White finished smoothing out the bedding. Just then, a shrill wail erupted from the courtyard.

"Oh dear heavens, I can't take this anymore..."

Luna's brow furrowed—she knew that voice all too well. Sure enough, the next second, Clara White barged in, dragging Maya White behind her.

Luna barely recognized them. Maya, once fresh-faced, now looked gaunt and sickly, her right eye bruised, hair tangled like a bird's nest, clothes filthy. Clara reeked of sour sweat, her greasy hair practically dripping oil. The moment they entered, they lunged for the bed, but Luna snatched up a broom to block them.

"Sit over there!" She pointed to the bench in the corner.

Clara froze, then slapped her thigh and wailed, "Luna, your sister's been beaten half to death, and you—"

"Stop right there." Luna sneered. "Who said she's my sister? Didn't your family cut ties with us long ago?"

Her sharp eyes caught the lice crawling in Clara's hair, and she recoiled in disgust. "And keep your fleas and lice away from our home."

At that, Maya immediately let go of Clara's arm and shuffled aside.

Clara stomped her foot in fury and turned to Ethan White, who had just walked in. "Ethan, you have to stand up for your sister! That bastard Frank Harris beat Maya so badly she lost the baby—"

Ethan sidestepped her coldly. "Spare me the act. Wasn’t this 'wonderful marriage' originally meant for Luna? Now that karma’s biting back, you remember us?"

Luna silently cheered for her brother.

"You—you heartless monsters!" Clara jabbed a trembling finger at Ethan.

"Compared to how you schemed against Luna, we’re saints." Ethan barked toward the door, "Ethan! Aaron! Bring the fire poker!"

Two teenage boys rushed in, one brandishing a broom, the other a fire poker, glaring at the mother-daughter pair.

"Get out!" Ethan snapped. "Come back, and we’ll break your legs!"

Clara tried to throw a tantrum, but Ethan Jackson swiped her leg with the broom, making her yelp in pain. Maya, thoroughly humiliated, tugged Clara toward the exit.

The moment they left, Luna ordered, "Boil water! Scald every inch of that bench!"

When Iris White entered with lunch, the house was buzzing with sanitizing efforts. She sighed. "They came again?"

"Ethan chased them off." Luna handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Next time, just drive them out with force."

Ethan took a bite of his steamed bun and mumbled, "Exactly. People like that only understand one language."

Iris smiled as she refilled her brother’s bowl. "Don’t worry. Our family’s doing well now. They can’t touch us."

Her mind drifted to plans for raising more chickens come spring, saving up to build a proper brick house. The thought made her chuckle.