Chapter 99
Jack White froze in his tracks as Maya's words stabbed through him like a knife. The family's meager savings had already been drained by this wretched girl, and the police station didn’t believe a cent of the old woman’s money had ended up in their hands.
Medical bills had cost over two hundred, and the fines another hundred. Now, only two hundred remained in his pocket. He’d sent a telegram to Ethan earlier—even if he couldn’t squeeze four or five hundred out of him, surely a hundred or two would come through.
Then there was Maya. Marrying her off would bring in another two hundred in dowry.
Crunching the numbers, he could scrape together five or six hundred—just enough to arrange a wife for Bai Zhuang, though the dowry would have to be downgraded. Times weren’t what they used to be.
But Jack had another thought—Bai Shan wasn’t married yet. He couldn’t pour everything into Bai Zhuang.
"Bai Shan!" Jack’s eyes gleamed with calculation. "Lock Maya in her room and nail the windows shut! Don’t let her out until the wedding day. This girl’s grown too bold—today she steals, tomorrow she’ll run. And when you can’t afford wives, don’t blame me!"
He wasn’t stupid. Maya had been caught in town—clearly trying to flee with the money. If she hadn’t been arrested, she’d have vanished without a trace.
He knew she hated the match with Frank Harris. What decent family would Clara have found for Luna? But right now, who else could he marry off but Maya?
Her reputation was ruined. If not Frank, then who? At least she’d fetch two hundred.
Without hesitation, Bai Shan and Bai Zhuang dragged Maya into the room. Wooden planks hammered against the window frame—this time, she wouldn’t escape.
Hao Fang stormed out of the house, clutching a pair of soaked pants reeking of urine. The stench made everyone cover their noses.
"Pissing herself again! How can anyone live in this filth? What girl would marry into this stinking hovel?"
Jack was still pondering what to do with the old woman when Hao Fang flung the pants into a corner, her face twisted in disgust.
"Why not move her into Luna’s old room? This place needs a proper cleaning—who could live here otherwise? Besides, the old hag’s already half-gone..."
Jack’s eyes lit up, but he feigned hesitation. "Do what you think is best. Just make sure she’s taken care of. Wait a couple of days before moving her—let’s clean the other room first."
Hao Fang smirked. She knew exactly what he meant.
By afternoon, villagers came to see Clara, only to find her slurring and immobile. They assumed she was paralyzed. A few muttered condolences before leaving—every family had their sick elders. This was Jack’s karma.
Before nightfall, Hao Fang and Jack carried Clara to a ramshackle shed beside the pigpen. They tossed her onto a mildewed quilt and left without another word.
Clara lay stiff under Luna’s old blanket, the stench of rot clinging to it.
She couldn’t understand how karma had struck so fast. She’d abandoned Luna here—now it was her turn. Heaven wouldn’t answer her cries; the earth wouldn’t heed her pleas.
No food at noon. At dusk, Hao Fang brought half a bowl of cornmeal porridge, set it on the edge of the bed, and walked away.
The pigpen reeked, but Clara had no choice. She struggled toward the bowl, her hands shaking too badly to hold it. As she leaned forward, she toppled to the ground. The bowl shattered, porridge spilling everywhere.
The old woman wailed on the dirt floor.
A lifetime of scheming, all for the sake of being cared for in old age. Her eldest son was gone—she’d poured everything into Jack. Food, clothes, every scrap went to his family. She’d crushed Ethan and the others without remorse, all for security in her twilight years.
Jack had always sweet-talked her, coaxing out every last penny. Now that she was helpless, he’d turned on her.
Just days—and already he’d left her here to die.
If no one found her, starvation would finish the job.
Clara gnashed her teeth in fury, but she couldn’t even crawl. No one would hear her screams.
For the first time, she truly regretted it.