Chapter 454
The blond-haired youth kicked the courtyard gate open, a baseball bat in his hand.
He spat toward the house, his face twisted with malice.
"Everyone dead in there? Don't you understand human speech? Get the hell out here—"
Hannah's temper flared instantly. She grabbed her phone and charged outside.
Sophia and Marcus couldn't stop her in time, quickly following behind.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hannah blocked the doorway, glaring at them.
Connor Croix sneered. "Where did this fat sow come from? Mind your own business."
The words "fat sow" ignited Hannah's fury.
"You're as skinny as a scarecrow! Anyone would think you're on something!"
Connor's face darkened immediately.
The white-haired man beside him jumped forward. "You bitch! Looking for a beating?"
Though Hannah didn't understand the dialect, his expression said it all.
The blond and the white-haired man looked alike, both gaunt and hollow-cheeked.
Dark circles under their eyes, purplish lips.
Cloudy irises, high cheekbones.
They looked like addicts.
"Where's the cripple? Sign the damn contract now!"
The blond sneered, shaking the bat in his hand.
"Or don't blame us for what happens next!"
"You think you can just take it by force?" Hannah stood her ground.
The blond turned to the white-haired man with a grin. "This fat sow won't cry until she sees the coffin."
The white-haired man raised his bat. "Let me teach her a lesson—"
"Don't you dare!" Hannah straightened her back. "I'll call the police if you lay a hand on me!"
"The police?" The blond laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke. "Go ahead! See what they can do to us!"
Seeing their confidence, Hannah's heart sank.
She quickly turned on her phone's camera. "If the law can't deal with you, the internet will!"
The blond and white-haired man's expressions changed simultaneously.
One lunged for her phone, the other grabbed her arm.
Marcus swiftly pulled Hannah back.
Sophia snatched a broom leaning against the wall and swung it.
The three retreated, creating distance.
Only then did Connor and his brother Sebastian notice the other two.
Marcus demanded coldly, "Attempting robbery in broad daylight?"
Connor grinned. "This village belongs to the Croix family! Got it?"
"Oh?" Sophia raised an eyebrow. "A village can be privately owned?"
"Clueless! We'll teach you today! Sebastian, get them!"
Connor waved his hand. Sebastian charged forward with his bat.
Marcus shielded the two girls, unable to dodge in time.
At the critical moment, Caleb rushed out from the house holding a shovel, blocking the descending bat with a loud clang.
Sebastian froze, then grinned viciously. "Caleb? Got some nerve now?"
Caleb stood protectively in front of the three, gripping the shovel tightly, his knuckles white. "Connor! Sebastian! You hurt my parents, put Jude in the hospital, and now you're coming after my friends?!"
"Oho, friends? From the city? No wonder you're so bold…"
Connor narrowed his eyes. "Sebastian, stop talking. Let's take care of them all!"
"Alright!"
Mr. Watson limped out from the inner room, a kitchen knife in his hand.
"Leave the kids alone! Or I'll fight you to the death!" His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging, looking half-mad.
A gentle man driven to wield a knife is more terrifying than a hardened criminal.
The Croix brothers were momentarily cowed.
Exchanging a glance, they saw caution in each other's eyes.
Connor gritted his teeth. "We'll let you off today! Bring the contract tomorrow! You'll sign it whether you want to or not!"
He grabbed Sebastian and left quickly.
That cripple has truly lost his mind!
After they left—
Clang!
Clang!
The kitchen knife and shovel fell to the ground.
Mr. Watson's legs gave way. Caleb hurried to support him.
Marcus stood nearby, seeing Caleb drenched in sweat, his collar soaked.
…
That night, the three stayed at the Watson's home.
Mr. Watson prepared a meal and invited them to eat.
Two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and plenty of rice.
"Don't be shy, eat your fill!"
"Thank you, Uncle."
Hannah was starving and had two bowls.
Marcus also had seconds.
Sophia noticed Mr. Watson and Caleb rarely touched the meat dishes.
Before they finished eating, Mr. Watson had quickly finished his rice and went to feed his wife and give her medicine.
After Mrs. Watson finished eating, she changed clothes and combed her hair, then walked out supported by her husband.
She seemed nervous, constantly adjusting her collar.
Careful, afraid of embarrassing her son.
Sophia smiled. "Auntie, the food is delicious. Uncle is a great cook!"
Mrs. Watson smiled. "He used to be a chef… Eat more if you like it!"
Hannah patted her stomach. "I'm really full!"
"Please, don't stand on ceremony…"
"Really, I'm full!"
Mrs. Watson seemed in better spirits. "Walter, turn on the TV for the kids."
"It's late. Stay the night. Chloe Sullivan can sleep with us. Sophia and Hannah can take Chloe Sullivan's room. Marcus, you can share with Caleb."
"Okay. Thank you, Auntie."
"What thanks? We should be thanking you for coming all this way to see Caleb, and getting involved in our trouble today…" Mrs. Watson sighed.
The bruises on her waist and legs hadn't faded.
She had tried to get up and help during the day but fell out of bed.
"First thing tomorrow, Caleb will take you to the village entrance. You can take Leo's auto rickshaw to town."