bhapter /bb567 /b

(b+23 /b

He tried to get up, but the pain from Bowen’s earlier blows was already drilling into his bones. After what Josephine just did, it was ba /bmiracle he bwas /bbeven /bconscious, and one had to bgive /bit to him for still being awake

He was about to call out, but the second Bowen shot him a look, he instantly mmed up, not daring to make a sound.

He had no idea if his dad could actually save him once he got inside, but one thing was crystal clearb–/bif these three wanted, they could totally take him out before his old man beven /bset foot in the room.

“Should we open the door?” Aubree nced at Bowen and murmured.

They had nothing to be afraid ofb, /band the only one who really had to worry was Josephine.

Josephine had already steeled herself before she made her move, fully prepared for the vige chief’s family toe after herb. /bShe just hadn’t expected them to show up this bfast/b.

“Open the door. It’s fine. Just say I did everything,b” /bbshe /bsaid firmly.

She gave Samuel ba /bcold stare and reiterated, “He knows he can’t mess with you, and he wouldn’t dare try anything against you.”

Aubree smiled, having already decided to see this through with Josephine. “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back,” she reassured.

In the worstb–/bbcase /bscenario, she could get Josephine and her son settled in Rithol City. By thenb, /beven if the Frager family wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn’t be able to do it.

Josephine looked at Aubreeb, /bwho bwas /bso young, and figured Aubree must bepletely dependent on that man.

Assuming that Aubree was just ba /bsheltered girl who’d never known real hardship, Josephone nced at Bowen and smiled, “Don’t worry about it.”

bIt /bwas rare for anyone to tell her not to be afraid or to offer help. A warmth blossomed in her heartb, /bmelting away the chill that had haunted her for

yearsb. /b

The door swung open, and ba /bcrafty, slick–looking bface /bappeared.

The vige chief wasn’t very tall; in bfact/b, he was even a bit shorter than Samuel. His beyes /bbwere /bfull of scheming calction, and he was always sizing people up.

Next to him stood a blond guy with a cockyb, /bstreetwise vibe.

Once the two of them stepped inside, the door was shut behind them.

Even though they’d heard the vige chief’s name plenty bof /btimes, this was the first time they bwere /bactually meeting him. Aubree’s face bgrew /ba little

tense.

The vige chief’s gaze paused briefly on Aubree and Bowen, his intentions unreadable.

He nced at Samuel, who was still bsprawled /bon the ground. When he noticed Samuel’s pained movements, a sh of anger crossed his eyes, but he just looked away, bclearly /bnot nning to help his son at ball/b.

The chief said, “Josephine, I’m really sorry about this. I noticed my buseless /bson didn’t show up for work today, so bI /basked around and found out he came over here. I honestly didn’t expect this to happen…

“This whole mess is my son’s doing. Our family owes you an apology.

“Your boy is about the right age to start school, isn’t he? How about this? I will do you a favor and get him into the primary school in town, and we’ll cover all the tuition fees. Let’s bjust /bpretend none of this ever happened. How does that sound?

“This youngest son of mine is the most worthless out of all three. I’m getting old, and my older two sons are never home. Only this one sticks around to look after me. I’m still counting on him to take care of me in my old age. Josephine, just do me this favor, alright?”

Josephine wanted to

say,

b“/bNo

thanks, I can get my son into school just fine without your family’s help.”

She nervously picked at her fingers, feeling torn inside.

She shot a nce at the blond guy behind the vige chief. She had no clue who Aubree and Bowen really were, but she knew all too well what the vige chief could do. With Aubree’s encouraging look, she managed to squeeze out a smile uglier than crying. She responded, “Sir, what are you talking about? Nothing happened at all.”

“Now that you’re here, why don’t you take Samuel back with you? And make sure you teach him a proper lesson.

b3:41 /bPM

The bvige /bchief grinned in response, “Of course, of course. bI /balways knew byou /bwere ba /bsensible girl.”

He told the blond guy to bcarry /bSamuel on his bback /band chided, “bWhat /bba /bgood–for–nothing!”