Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next morning, Jere, who worked in the city, furiously pounded on our front door.

"Simon, you bastard, get out here!"

I had a sinking feeling about this. Jere was notorious for being a troublemaker. What had I done to provoke him?

As soon as I stepped outside, he slapped me hard, knocking me to the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. My mother and grandfather rushed to shield me, terrified.

"Mr. Anderson, what's going on? What did Simon do wrong?" My mother held me tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks. She had never laid a hand on me, and seeing me hurt broke her heart.

"What did he do wrong? Look at what your son has done!" Jere shouted, his face red with anger and his eyes filled with malice.

He shoved his phone in my face. On the screen was a photo of me and his wife. Due to the angle, it looked like I was holding her.

I suddenly remembered. Yesterday, Brielle had been carrying a bucket of water, and I had offered to help. His wife had seen us and insisted on carrying it herself. How had this turned into such a scandal?

"Mr. Anderson, you've misunderstood. It's not what you think..."

"Misunderstood, my ass! I knew he was no good. So young and already flirting with other people's wives. Shame on you! It's disgraceful," my aunt Paige chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain.

It all made sense now. This had to be her doing.

I stood up and faced Jere with confidence. "I was just helping Brielle carry water. Your wife saw and said she didn't need my help. The photo shows us both reaching for the bucket. How does that make me a seducer?"

Before Jere could respond, Aunt Paige slapped me hard.

"What a disgrace to the family! And you still have the nerve to argue? I'll beat you to death!"

My mother rushed forward and pushed Aunt Paige to the ground. "I dare anyone to touch my son!"

Aunt Paige was stunned. My mother had never stood up to her before. I was equally shocked by her sudden bravery.

She looked at me. "Simon, don't be afraid. From now on, I can protect you too."

Aunt Paige scrambled to her feet, ready to hit my mother. I quickly shielded her.

"You wretched woman, how dare you hit me? You've got a lot of nerve!"

The yard was in chaos. Brielle and her daughter-in-law arrived from next door. Jere had come back from the city early in the morning and hadn't even gone home yet. Brielle quickly got the full story.

She picked up a broom and started whacking Jere. "You ungrateful idiot! Simon is such a good kid, always helping me with the hard work. And you repay him by beating him? You're a disgrace!"

Jere was dumbfounded. I snatched his phone and looked at the photo again. The message had been sent by Aunt Paige.

I advanced towards her. "Did you take this photo?"

She hid behind my grandfather. "Yes, I took it. So what?"

She was so self-righteous, twisting the truth with a misleading photo to accuse me of seducing someone else's wife?

"Which eye of yours saw me seducing her?" I clenched my fists, ready to punch her.

"What are you going to do? With that pose, who knows what filthy thoughts you had?"

I chuckled and stopped advancing. "Aunt Paige, you're accusing her of having an affair. How will she face the village after this? And what about Mr. Anderson? You're putting a green hat on him. How can he hold his head up?"

Jere and his wife realized the implications and started beating Aunt Paige.

"Spreading lies and rumors. If you can't keep your mouth shut, stay home!"

Aunt Paige was left bruised and battered, glaring at me with hatred. "You little brat, you may get away today, but I'll get you sooner or later."

She was dragged to the village committee, where she was forced to broadcast the truth to the entire village. She became the target of everyone's scorn.

Grandfather's condition worsened from the stress, barely hanging on. When Aunt Paige's family arrived, the house was already full of people.

She rushed to Grandfather's side. "You old fool, you can't die yet. You haven't written your will."

Everyone pulled her away. I couldn't hold back any longer and kicked her repeatedly in the chaos.

Grandfather was on his deathbed, and she was still cursing him? All she cared about was the inheritance.

She had a son of her own. Didn't she know to do some good deeds?

I held up a few sheets of paper and shouted, "The will you're after is right here!"

Aunt Paige's eyes lit up as she lunged for the papers. I smirked and threw them in her face.

This is what you wanted. Don't regret it later.