Chapter 35

"Keep this up, and I'll call your father to deal with you!" The nurse's threat finally silenced Michael Stone.

Meanwhile, the tempting aroma of meat wafted through the small courtyard of the Stone family home. Emily Johnson lifted the pot lid, and the rich fragrance instantly filled the kitchen. The ribs were perfectly stewed, the meat falling off the bone at the slightest touch. She had added a secret blend of spices from her PennyDeals space, making the dish exceptionally flavorful.

"Mom, it smells so good!" Tommy stood on tiptoe, his eyes fixed longingly on the pot.

As night fell, the mother and her two sons enjoyed their dinner by the dim glow of a kerosene lamp. The tender ribs, potatoes soaked in savory broth, and steaming white rice had the boys licking their lips.

"Meat is the best!" David sighed contentedly.

In this era of scarcity, a meal with meat was a rare luxury. After the pork noodles at noon and the rib feast tonight, both boys' bellies were happily full.

"What would you like for breakfast tomorrow?" Emily asked as she cleared the dishes.

"More pork noodles!" Tommy immediately raised his hand.

"Alright, pork noodles and milk then," Emily agreed readily. Cooking noodles was far easier than waking early to make porridge.

After helping the boys wash up, Emily carried the kerosene lamp to light their way to bed. In their simple room, the two burrowed under the covers but stayed wide-eyed.

"Will you wait for Dad to come home?" Tommy suddenly asked.

Emily paused, meeting their hopeful gazes before answering softly, "Yes."

Closing the door behind her, she exhaled deeply. Returning to her own room with the lamp, she found sleep elusive. Pulling out a textbook from the drawer, she worked through a few problems before lying down.

In the dead of night, faint rustling sounds came from beyond the courtyard wall. Emily's eyes snapped open, her hand slipping under the pillow to grip her stun baton.

A shadowy figure crept over the wall...

With a soft thud, Peter Wilson landed silently. He inhaled greedily, as if he could still catch the lingering scent of meat from earlier. The idle troublemaker, driven by hunger, had sneaked into the Stone family's yard under cover of darkness.

In the shadows, Emily held her breath, tightening her grip on her weapon...