Chapter 49

Luna White hurriedly led the crowd inside. "Mayor, Security Chief, uncles and aunts—come quick! It's Grandma!" Her voice trembled with tears.

The moment the group entered, Jack White shot his wife, Amy, a venomous glare. Useless woman! He quickly pushed his way into the room.

His own mother was sick—how could the "filial son" not be present?

Mayor George Clark took one look at Clara White’s twisted mouth and drooping eye, and his brow furrowed. Strokes were rare in the village, but he’d seen enough bedridden elders to recognize the signs. The old woman was most likely paralyzed.

"Jack, get her to the hospital! Any delay could be fatal!" George set aside their past grudges—saving a life came first.

Jack shoved his way to the bed, only to recoil at the sight of his mother. He shook her roughly. "Mom? Mom, wake up!" Wasn’t this supposed to be an act?

Clara rolled limply to the side, her fingers curled like claws. The blanket shifted, releasing a pungent stench of urine. The crowd gagged and backed away.

George clenched his jaw. "I’ll fetch the tractor. Get her ready." He strode out without another word.

The others scrambled after him, eager to escape the foul air.

Panicked, Jack barked at Luna, "Change your grandmother’s clothes!"—then tried to slip out himself.

Luna yanked him back. "Uncle, maybe Aunt Amy should do it. Grandma’s things are locked up—I wouldn’t dare touch them." Oh no, you don’t.

Jack’s eyes gleamed. Right—the old woman’s savings are still in that chest! He forced a greasy smile. "Then go call your aunt."

The fakeness of it made Luna’s stomach turn.

Amy was still fuming in the yard, baffled by Frank Harris’s sudden support for Luna over her own family.

"Aunt, Uncle wants you to change Grandma’s clothes," Luna said flatly before walking off.

Amy cursed under her breath as she entered—then let out a shrill wail. "Mama! What’s happened to you?!"

Luna ignored her and turned to leave.

"L-Luna..." Frank stammered, his legs shaking.

She glanced back coldly. "What?"

He flinched. "I—I—"

"Luna! Help me!" Amy shrieked from inside.

Luna narrowed her eyes. Already disgusted by her? She’d love to see how this family planned to "care" for the old woman.

Seizing the chance, Frank shouted toward the house, "Maya! Come tend to Grandma!" then grinned obsequiously at Luna.

George returned with the tractor. "Jack, hurry!" Spotting Luna, he frowned. "Maya and Luna stay here. Ethan and David can help carry her."

The crowd murmured agreement.

Ethan and David pinched their noses as they entered, nearly retching at the stench.

Amy muttered while changing Clara’s soiled clothes, "How did she just collapse? What do we do now?"

Jack seized the moment to pocket his mother’s hidden savings, hissing, "Shut up! The whole village is watching!"

Perfect chance to salvage my reputation, he thought.