Chapter 118
"Miss Lin, I advise you to just give up."
In the café, the man adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses laced with disdain. He slid a document across the table toward Lin Chuxia, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface.
Lin Chuxia stared at the file, her nails digging unconsciously into her palms. She took a deep breath, forcing down the storm of emotions rising within her.
"Attorney Zhang, my father’s company couldn’t possibly—"
"Miss Lin," Attorney Zhang interrupted with a professional smile, "the court has already accepted the bankruptcy petition. The debts your father owes are not something a fresh graduate like you can handle."
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting harsh light on Lin Chuxia’s pale face. Her fists clenched until her knuckles turned white.
"My father was framed!"
Attorney Zhang shook his head and pulled out another set of photos from his briefcase. The images showed Lin’s father speaking with several unfamiliar men outside a hotel.
"This evidence is enough to prove your father’s involvement in commercial fraud. Miss Lin, a wise person knows when to yield."
Lin Chuxia shot to her feet, knocking over her coffee cup. The dark liquid spread across the table. Her chest heaved as she glared at the photos.
"These are fake!"
"Truth or fabrication doesn’t matter," Attorney Zhang said calmly, wiping coffee splashes from his suit. "What matters is what the court will believe."
Lin Chuxia bit her lower lip until she tasted blood. Suddenly, she snatched the photos from the table and turned to leave.
"Miss Lin!" Attorney Zhang called after her. "Your father has already confessed in custody! Struggling further is pointless!"
Her steps faltered for a split second, but she didn’t look back. Pushing open the café’s glass door, she stepped outside, the sunlight stinging her eyes.
Her phone buzzed abruptly. An unknown number flashed on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Miss Lin," a deep male voice spoke on the other end. "Do you want to save your father?"
Her heartbeat spiked. Gripping the phone tighter, she whispered, "Who are you?"
"Tomorrow at 3 PM. The abandoned factory on the outskirts. Come alone."
The line went dead. Standing amidst the bustling crowd, Lin Chuxia felt the world spinning around her.
She lifted her gaze to the sky—still bright, still indifferent. But she knew, from this moment on, her life would never be the same.
"She wasn't like those educated youths who abandoned their partners to return to the city. But who would've thought..." Charles Clark crouched on the ground, his voice choked with emotion. "Daisy's family suddenly raised the bride price to two hundred yuan, plus the 'Three Turns and One Sound.'"
Samuel Bright frowned. He'd never met Daisy Lee, but Charles had often spoken of her.
"She's not the prettiest, but she's hardworking," Charles had once described her. "She can work the fields with me, not delicate like your wife."
Back then, whenever Charles mentioned his sweetheart, his eyes would shine. Even while on the road, he'd mutter, "What should I bring back for Daisy?"
Once, seeing Samuel selling lipstick, Charles secretly bought a tube. "Daisy will love this," he'd said, blushing.
Now, those same eyes were dull with despair.
"Could her family be in trouble?" Samuel sensed something amiss. "Why else would they demand so much suddenly?"
Even city girls wouldn't ask for such a price, let alone a village girl. A matchmaker had guaranteed the arrangement during their courtship.
"I don't know..." Charles raked his hands through his hair, his voice hoarse. "We'd already set the wedding date..."
His parents would never agree to such an amount.
"Come on, let's ask Lucy Smith for the truth." Samuel pulled him up. "Don't you want to know why?"
Charles stumbled after him. He hated troubling his friend, but he needed answers.
Lucy's home was a modest adobe house. Seeing them, she sighed.
"Charles, this is my fault," Lucy lamented, slapping her thigh. "I'll find you a better match. Forget about Daisy."
Samuel narrowed his eyes. "What really happened?"
The truth spilled out—Daisy's older brother had been caught sleeping with the village widow. The widow's in-laws demanded compensation, and with the Lees unable to pay, they turned to extorting the bride price.
"Hearing Charles had money, they got greedy," Lucy said bitterly. "My friend told me in confidence. Not many know yet."
Charles froze as if struck by lightning. His honest future brother-in-law—capable of such a thing?