Chapter 51

"Get moving! Standing here waiting to die? If you don't get this done, none of you will eat tonight!"

Margaret Wilson stood with hands on hips, berating her two granddaughters.

In this era of favoring sons over daughters, rural girls had it especially hard. The Wilson sisters had been treated as burdens since birth—so much so that no one bothered giving them proper names, simply calling them Sarah and Emma.

"Grandma, I'll go right now..." Sarah trembled, her voice barely a whisper. She knew all too well how much her grandmother's cane could hurt.

"Sis, are we really going to see Emily Johnson?" Emma tugged at her sister's sleeve, eyes wide with fear. The morning's spectacle was still fresh in their minds—if Emily had dared to strike their uncle, what chance did they have?

"Not going would be worse..." Sarah gave a bitter smile. At least Emily wouldn't hit them, but their grandmother's cane was guaranteed pain. As for their parents? Their eyes were only for their brother.

The sisters went to the educated youth quarters first but found no one there. Steeling themselves, they headed toward the Stone residence, each step feeling like walking on knives.

Meanwhile, at the Stone household, David and Tommy were napping. Emily sat at the table, engrossed in her exam papers when a knock at the door made her pen pause mid-stroke.

"Who is it?" She opened the door cautiously, frowning when she saw the Wilson sisters. Her eyes darted around, wary of an ambush.

"Miss Johnson, please... let my uncle go..." Sarah kept her head down, voice shaking. This city-educated girl before her had skin so fair it nearly glowed, clothes without a single patch—she might as well have been from another world.

Emily smirked coldly. "He's already at the police station. Begging me won't help. Wrongdoers deserve punishment."

"Please..." Sarah suddenly dropped to her knees, startling Emily into stepping back.

"You could kneel till nightfall and it wouldn't change a thing," Emily's voice was ice. "I don't play these games. Kneel if you want—I can take it."

With that, she slammed the door shut, blocking out the nosy villagers outside. What scene hadn't she weathered before? Gossip meant nothing to her.

Outside, the sisters were stunned. They hadn't expected Emily to be so unyielding—even kneeling hadn't worked.

"That old hag Margaret Wilson thinks sending her granddaughters to kneel will make Emily back down? Dream on!"

"Emily's heart is truly cold..."

"Pah! When Peter Wilson was stealing chickens left and right, who complained then? Didn't that family whose chicken went missing curse for three days straight?"

The murmurs rose and fell, all audible to Emily inside. She curled her lips slightly and returned to her exam papers. This farce wasn't over yet.