Chapter 190

"Henry has a fever?" Emily Johnson set aside her needlework, her brow furrowing slightly.

Little David hung his head, nervously twisting the hem of his shirt. "Mom... I gave Henry a fried dough twist yesterday..."

"Take your time," Emily said gently, pulling her son closer.

It turned out that at noon the previous day, David had gone to call his grandfather for lunch when he spotted Henry digging for worms. Seeing his friend swallowing hard from hunger, David had secretly slipped him a fried dough twist.

"Henry said he'd share it with his little sister..." David's voice grew quieter. "But then his stepmother saw..."

Smack! Emily slammed her hand on the table and stood abruptly. "Let's go check on him."

"Auntie, Henry's stepmother is really mean!" Max, the boy who had brought the news, shrank back nervously.

Emily smirked. "Meaner than me?"

As the three approached Henry’s house, a shrill voice screeched from inside: "Stop faking it, you little brat!"

Bang! Emily kicked the gate open without hesitation.

In the yard stood a sharp-faced woman with high cheekbones, hands on her hips. Her beady eyes narrowed at the intrusion. "Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Stone!"

"Where’s Henry?" Emily scanned the area.

"None of your damn business!" The woman spat.

Seizing the chance, David darted inside. A moment later, his alarmed cry rang out: "Mom! Henry’s burning up!"

Emily’s gaze turned icy. "If my son gave him food, it’s not your place to punish him for it."

"You—!" The woman’s face darkened. "I’ll discipline my child however I please!"

"Oh?" Emily stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I hear you’re Peter Wilson’s cousin?"

The woman stiffened.

"Perfect." Emily’s lips curved. "We can settle old scores while we’re at it."

Suddenly raising her voice, she called out, "Everyone! Come see how this stepmother abuses her own child—she’ll kill him at this rate!"

Neighbors began peering out from their homes.

Furious, the woman lunged, claws out. Emily sidestepped smoothly and delivered a stinging slap across her face.

"That was for Henry." Emily leaned in, her voice lethally soft. "Tell me... how would you like to find a snake in your bed tonight?"

The woman paled, stumbling backward.

"Now, you have two choices." Emily calmly adjusted her sleeve. "Either I take Henry to see a doctor, or..." Her gaze flicked meaningfully to the woman’s own son clutched in her arms.

"You—you wouldn’t dare!"

Emily smiled without answering and turned toward the house. Behind her came a thud—the woman collapsing to the ground, too terrified to move.