Chapter 94

Mary Stone sighed and lowered her voice. "Ever since Ethan's parents passed, his brother and sister-in-law changed completely. That boy is still so young, yet they force him to do heavy labor every day, beating and starving him. Have you seen his hands? They don’t even look like a child’s."

Emily Johnson recalled seeing Ethan at noon—skinny as a twig, his hands covered in calluses and scars. Her heart ached. "What if he moves out? At least he wouldn’t be beaten anymore."

"It’s not that simple..." Mary shook her head.

As the two women spoke, chaos erupted at Ethan’s house.

"Everyone else caught fish, but you came back empty-handed? Think you deserve dinner? Dream on!" Ethan’s sister-in-law shrieked.

"Kneel down! No food for you tonight!"

But this time, Ethan didn’t obey. Remembering Michael Stone’s advice, he turned and ran.

"You little brat! How dare you run?" His sister-in-law grabbed a stick and chased after him. "I’ll break your legs! Don’t you dare come back!"

"Stop!" John Stone Sr. and the village elder arrived just in time to see Ethan being chased around the yard.

Ethan’s nieces and nephews stood by, watching the spectacle, while his older brother pretended not to notice.

"Drop that stick!" John barked.

Ethan’s sister-in-law froze when she saw the officials. "Captain Stone, we were just playing around..."

"The decision to split the household is ours to make," the elder said sternly.

"No! We won’t separate!" she protested, stomping her feet.

John scoffed. "It’s not up to you! Ethan, speak up!"

"I want my own home!" Ethan shouted, his eyes red. "If I stay, they’ll beat or starve me to death!"

"Ungrateful wretch!" His sister-in-law lunged forward.

"Enough!" John slammed his hand on the table. "Ethan is your brother-in-law, not your servant! This separation happens today!"

Ethan’s brother forced a smile. "Captain, he’s just a child—"

"Too late," the elder cut in coldly. "The whole village knows you’ve been treating him like livestock."

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the crowd. "I heard someone wants to strip me naked?"

People stepped aside as Michael Stone strode forward.

"Michael?" John blinked in surprise.

Michael smirked. "I came to see who’s bold enough to try undressing a man in public."