Chapter 37

"Oh my heavens!" Clara White clutched the lump on her forehead, plopping onto the ground with a dramatic wail. "Everyone, come see how my own granddaughter has beaten her poor old grandmother!"

The gathered villagers exchanged uneasy glances. Someone murmured, "Aunt Clara, are you sure it was Luna? She just came from the mayor's house."

"Exactly," another chimed in. "Luna wouldn’t even step on an ant. How could she hit someone?"

Clara stomped her foot in frustration. "Don’t believe me? Robert Thompson was at the village entrance—he must have seen it!"

Luna lingered at the edge of the crowd, a faint smirk playing on her lips. The old woman was truly desperate if she thought Robert would back her up. After threatening him just yesterday, did she really expect his help today?

"What’s all this commotion now?" Mayor George Clark pushed through the crowd, his expression dark, followed by his weary wife, Clara Clark. The couple had been dealing with enough family drama lately, and Clara White’s theatrics only worsened their moods.

Clara White pointed at her forehead, tears and snot running down her face. "Mayor, you be the judge! This lump is from that wretched Luna!"

George scoffed. "Aunt Clara, you should be careful with such accusations. Everyone knows Luna is the gentlest soul in the village. If anything, I’d believe you hit her!"

The sharp remark made Clara’s face turn ashen. Sensing the tension, her daughter-in-law, Amy Miller, stepped forward to mediate. "Mayor, my mother-in-law is getting on in years—she might have been mistaken." Then, with a calculated shift, she turned to Luna. "Oh, Luna, come home for lunch today. Your in-laws are visiting to discuss the marriage arrangements."

"Marriage?" Luna arched a brow. "Since when do I have in-laws?"

Amy smiled slyly. "It’s a betrothal your parents arranged before they passed. The groom’s family has come to formalize it."

Luna’s lips curled coldly. In her past life, this so-called "wonderful match" hadn’t surfaced for another two years. It seemed her rebirth had accelerated many events. Were the Whites so desperate to trap her now?

"I won’t marry," Luna stated flatly.

"What?" Clara White shrieked, leaping to her feet. "A child has no say in marriage—it’s the parents’ decision!"

Whispers rippled through the crowd. In the rural 1980s, parental authority still dictated such matters. But Luna was the village’s only university student—no one dared take sides rashly.

"I said no," Luna repeated, each word deliberate. "If you’re so eager, marry him yourself."

Clara trembled with rage, jabbing a finger at Luna. "You ungrateful wretch! If your parents knew—"

"If my parents knew how you’ve treated me," Luna cut in icily, "they’d rise from their graves in fury!"

Gasps erupted. No one had expected the usually meek Luna to stand her ground so fiercely. Mayor George studied her resolute profile, struck by the sudden change in her. Something about her was different—unshakable.