Chapter 122

The dining table was laden with seven or eight dishes, and Emily Johnson couldn't help but marvel inwardly. She hadn’t expected these men to put together such an impressive spread.

"Let's eat."

Surprisingly, the meal was unusually quiet. No one used the occasion to discuss business—only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks broke the silence.

"Try the fish belly—it's the most tender part with fewer bones."

Emily didn’t refuse. Since she hadn’t cooked, she might as well enjoy the meal. With Michael Stone’s brothers present, her only concern was making sure David and Tommy were taken care of.

After dinner, she helped the boys clear the table. The men had polished off every last bite, which pleased her.

"Alright, let’s hear it. What’s the deal with your girl?" Michael got straight to the point.

Charles Clark grimaced. "She’s not my girl anymore. Her family’s bride price is beyond what I can afford."

"How much? Enlighten me." Daniel River perked up. At marriageable age himself, he was already fielding proposals.

Under everyone’s scrutiny, Charles sighed. "Two hundred bucks, plus the 'Three Turns and One Sound.'"

Daniel sucked in a sharp breath. "Even city girls don’t ask for that much! Around here, the standard’s eighty bucks with the '36 Legs'!"

Even Michael frowned slightly. Though he’d never met Charles’ ex, he knew the going rates for rural brides.

"Charles, you messed up," Daniel teased, waggling his eyebrows. "If she’s demanding that much, she must be a real beauty—prettier than Emily?"

The temperature in the room dropped instantly. "Don’t compare my wife to anyone else," Michael said coldly.

Daniel hurried to backtrack. "Emily’s the loveliest girl in ten villages."

Charles nodded earnestly. "No one compares to Emily."

"Then what gives her family the nerve to ask so much?" Daniel scoffed. "Two hundred bucks? That’s years of savings for most families!"

Samuel Bright, silent until now, spoke up. "Charles and I went to see Lucy Smith. Turns out Sophia Green’s older brother was caught sleeping with Widow Collins. Her in-laws demanded three hundred in compensation. They probably heard Charles made good money on this trip and noticed how generously he spoiled his girl. The Greens are just being greedy."

"Sleeping with a widow?" Daniel’s eyes widened. "That widow must be worth her weight in gold!"

Michael’s brow furrowed. Something felt off. "Sounds like a setup."

Samuel nodded. "Michael, should we look into the widow’s in-laws? This reeks of a trap. They must’ve known we came back with money."

With the enemy hidden and them exposed, it was a tricky situation.

Charles looked lost. "What trap?"

Michael sighed. "I took you all out to earn money for marriage, but it seems I’ve only brought you trouble."

The three men replied in unison, "Not at all!"