Chapter 194

"They're trying to pin this on Michael's wife!" Mary Stone fumed, grabbing a broom and storming toward the Wilson household.

Inside, Lily Wilson, Henry’s stepmother, was throwing a tantrum. "We have to get that Emily Johnson to pay!" she shrieked.

Henry’s father, George Wilson, sat on the doorstep, puffing on his pipe, ignoring Lily’s hysterics. Their youngest son played in the yard, oblivious to the chaos.

"You two have the nerve to sit here doing nothing?" Mary kicked the gate open. "A father who doesn’t care if his son lives or dies, and a stepmother who’d rather see the child sick—what kind of monsters are you?"

She seized Lily by the collar. "Lily Wilson, you think no one remembers the shameful things you did to get married?"

Lily paled. "Y-You’re lying!"

"Lying?" Mary sneered. "Should I remind you how you cornered Butcher Zhang in the cornfield?"

Thud. George’s pipe hit the ground. He slapped Lily hard across the face. "You shameless woman!"

Gasps erupted from beyond the fence. Several women eavesdropping nearly fell off the wall—this was juicy gossip.

"Get your son to the clinic now!" Mary kicked George. "If your mother knew you’d abandoned your own flesh and blood, she’d rise from her grave!"

George finally scrambled away in panic. Before leaving, Mary spat at Lily. "Enjoy being the village laughingstock!"

True to her word, within hours, the rumors spread like wildfire:

"Did you hear? Lily Wilson in the cornfield—"

"Worse! They say she seduced three men!"

"No wonder she treats Henry and Daisy so cruelly..."

Meanwhile, the comforting aroma of meat buns filled Emily’s home.

"Eat while they’re hot." Emily handed plump buns to Henry.

The boy clutched them nervously, while Daisy swallowed hard, eyes wide.

"Go on!" David broke his bun in half. "Grandma’s meat buns are the best!"

The children took small, reverent bites, as if savoring a feast.

The gate burst open. George and Mary rushed in, panting. Henry hid his bun behind his back, and Daisy choked in fright.

"Easy now." Emily patted Daisy’s back, then leveled a cold stare at the intruders. "Can I help you?"

(Cliffhanger: How will Emily handle George’s aggression? Will the children escape their nightmare? And just how far will Lily’s scandal spread?)