Chapter 233

"What brings you here?" Captain John Stone Sr. frowned as his son and daughter-in-law appeared unannounced at his doorstep.

"Dad, let's talk inside," Michael Stone murmured, glancing meaningfully toward the house.

The old family home, now occupied only by the elderly couple, felt eerily empty.

"Ethan, tell the Captain what you saw with Thomas Bright," Emily Johnson nudged the boy beside her.

Ethan launched into an animated account, complete with gestures.

Captain Stone's face darkened as he listened. He slammed his fist on the table. "That Thomas Bright! Ignoring my warnings! First selling his own daughter, now scheming against his niece!"

Emily shook her head inwardly. The Bright couple's cruelty knew no bounds.

"I'm going to confront them right now!"

"Dad!" Emily intercepted him urgently. "They'll just deny everything if we barge in. Here's what we should do instead..."

She whispered her plan, and the older man's eyes lit up.

Mary Stone hugged her grandsons tightly, worry lining her face. "Leave David and Tommy with me. Be careful."

The Captain gathered a few nephews, and the four men quietly took up positions near Amy Bright's home.

Night deepened, the biting wind cutting through their clothes.

Inside, Amy and Grandma Bright had retired early. The innocent girl believed her uncle's gift of meat stew had been given out of kindness.

She never suspected the sinister motive behind that bowl.

Meanwhile, tension hung thick in the Johnson household.

Margaret Johnson had summoned both sons home—an unusual occurrence. At dinner, Victoria Johnson sensed something amiss with her mother-in-law.

"I called you here to discuss dividing the household," Margaret announced calmly, setting down her chopsticks.

"Dividing?" Victoria nearly dropped her bowl.

Catherine Johnson gasped, pinching her husband's arm under the table.

"Mom, why now?" Richard Johnson frowned.

Margaret studied her sons. "Branches must spread when the tree grows tall. You're married men—it's time to establish your own homes."

Victoria tugged frantically at her husband's sleeve. The family assets belonged to her son!

Anthony, however, nodded calmly. "Don't worry, we'll still fulfill our filial duties after the division."

Catherine quickly added, "Of course! After all you've done for us, we'd never neglect you."

Margaret noted Victoria's panicked expression with a sinking heart.

All these years, she'd been blind to such calculations.