Chapter 192

Emily stormed into Henry's room, the musty air making her grimace. The straw-covered bed held a small, curled-up figure, the blanket so filthy its original color was unrecognizable. She scooped Henry into her arms—his lightness sent a pang through her chest. He was even thinner than David.

"Let's go."

She marched past the couple, her voice icy. "City hospitals can run DNA tests. How can two grown adults believe such nonsense? You're being used as pawns and don’t even realize it!"

Tommy and Max hurried after her. Villagers whispered among themselves:

"Tsk, Henry’s stepmother spins quite the tale, claiming he’s not their blood. Why not say her own ugly son’s the bastard?"

"That fool of a father’s so bewitched by his wife, he’d deny his own flesh and blood!"

"Rumor has it they make quite the racket at night..."

The stepmother stamped her foot, face red with rage. "Get out! All of you!"

As the crowd dispersed, Henry’s father stood frozen.

"Darling..." The stepmother clutched her swollen cheek. "We should demand compensation from Emily! Her family’s rich!"

The man stared at her, suddenly recalling she’d been the first to claim the boy wasn’t his...

"Darling?" Panic flickered in her eyes. Had he actually believed that wretched woman?

At the clinic, Emily rushed in with Henry. "Doctor, quick!"

Daisy clung to her brother’s hand, tears streaming. "Mom, is Henry going to die?"

The village doctor’s expression darkened after the examination. "The fever’s dangerously high." He lifted Henry’s collar, revealing bruises. "These injuries..."

Emily’s fists clenched, nails digging into her palms. She hadn’t hit them hard enough earlier.

"I’ll fetch medicine from home. Stay here."

The three children nodded solemnly.

The doctor sighed, turning to prepare herbs. What kind of father would beat his own child like this?

"David, how’s Henry?" John Stone Sr. arrived breathlessly.

"Grandpa, he’s still unconscious," David said, eyes red.

John’s heart sank. If the fever damaged the boy’s brain, his daughter-in-law would face serious consequences.

He turned to the trembling girl in the corner. "Daisy, where’s your father?"

The child shrank back, tears falling like raindrops.