Chapter 197

"Brother, let me explain!" My little sister clutched my sleeve, her eyes red-rimmed.

I shook her off with a cold laugh. "Explain what? How you conspired with outsiders against me?"

She bit her lip, tears welling up. "It's not like that... Uncle Lee said—"

"Enough!"

I slammed my hand on the table, rattling the teacup.

"You believe everything Uncle Lee says? If he told you to jump off a cliff, would you?" My voice trembled with fury. "After all these years of providing for you—food, clothes, school—this is how you repay me?"

She staggered back, tears finally spilling over.

"Brother, I truly didn’t know—"

"Didn’t know?" I sneered. "Well, now you do. Uncle Lee can’t stand seeing us united. He’s deliberately driving us apart!"

Outside, lightning split the sky as rain poured down.

Suddenly, she lifted her head. "But... Uncle Lee said... about Mom and Dad’s death—"

My pupils constricted.

"Shut up!" I seized her wrist. "One more word, and you’re no longer my sister!"

My ferocious expression drained the color from her face.

Just then, a phone rang sharply.

The caller ID flashed: Uncle Lee.

"What exactly is our sister-in-law plotting?" The second Mrs. Yun frowned, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. "Go and find out. When Emily returns, we'll be prepared."

Find out?

The second Mr. Yun felt a surge of irritation. Half the reason for his strained relationship with his parents was his status as a live-in son-in-law, and the other half was entirely due to the first Mrs. Yun.

The second Mrs. Yun had been his high school classmate. Her mother had suffered a premature birth due to a shove from her in-laws, leaving her unable to bear children again. Fortunately, her father was a chef at a state-run restaurant, and her mother worked as a sales clerk at a department store—their family was well-off. The second Mrs. Yun had taken over her mother's job after she retired.

The next day, the second Mr. Yun returned with news.

"Darling, I found out." His expression darkened. "The deputy director of their factory has a crippled son who throws his weight around because of his father's influence. That guy's divorced and looking for a pretty stepmother. Our sister-in-law is truly despicable!"

The second Mrs. Yun mused, "Emily's been in the countryside for six years. Could she already be married?"

What she didn’t dare say aloud was: After years of exposure to the elements, that delicate girl from before had likely changed beyond recognition.

"Surely not?" The second Mr. Yun recalled the sweet way his sister used to call him "Second Brother," but he wasn’t sure. Emily was stubborn—otherwise, they wouldn’t have been so thoroughly outmaneuvered by their sister-in-law.

Their father was a factory director, their mother an accountant—they could have easily afforded to buy Emily a job. But after their sister-in-law gave birth to two sons, their parents' favoritism had shifted.

"If she's married, our sister-in-law's plan will fall through." The second Mrs. Yun suggested, "When Emily returns to the city, you meet her alone. I'll talk to her."

She had never met this sister-in-law. By the time she and the second Mr. Yun started dating, Emily had already been sent to the countryside.

"Fine. Go wash the clothes first." His tone softened.

Their marriage was a happy one. The second Mrs. Yun’s family was well-off, and her parents treated him like their own son. Her mother even took care of their three children.

"Right away." As she stood, a cold smile flickered at the corner of her lips. She was curious to see just how capable this sister-in-law of hers really was.

Meanwhile, in Stone Village.

After lying in bed for a long time, Robert Stone finally decided to go to town to have his leg injury checked.

"Big Brother, you're going to town too?" On the oxcart, Elizabeth Stone was surprised to see Emily Johnson.

"Yeah, to see about my leg." Robert forced a smile.

Elizabeth studied Emily. "Sister-in-law, are you shopping for New Year's supplies?"

New Year's supplies? Emily scoffed inwardly. She was just bored and wanted to stroll around town.