"Lester, you coward, don't run! Stop right there!"
Several burly men from the neighboring village chased after Lester, who was jumping around like a monkey, yelling as they ran:"Pay your debts! It's only right. You borrowed money and haven't paid it back. We'll beat you to death if you don't!"
"Liew's third son, give back the money you owe me! Otherwise, we'll smash your house. No, we'll beat you, the cheating scoundrel, to pay off the debt!"
Realizing there wasn't much left to smash in the Liew family's broken shack, the men changed their words — now they wanted to beat Lester to death.
Seeing he was at a disadvantage, Lester ran even faster, quicker than a rabbit.
The man wore a patched-up gray long robe, was tall and lean, with long hair tied messily with a straw rope, running so hastily his shoes fell off.
But when he glanced back, there was no mistaking those sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, high nose, and full lips. Though his skin was darker and his expression disheveled, he carried the swagger of a wandering rogue.
Truly a striking appearance!
Several village women watching lowered their eyes and hurriedly looked away, afraid their hearts might race uncontrollably if noticed.
Usually, Lester would be teasing in this situation. But now, all he could feel was despair — heaven was surely against him!
Without his shoes, his speed slowed. The villagers scattered to avoid trouble.
Lester could neither hide nor run effectively. As a machete swung down toward him, hopelessness filled his eyes — until suddenly a hand shot in front and stopped the blade.
"Everyone stop!" Clara shouted angrily. Her seemingly delicate hand gripped the machete's handle firmly.
Billy Lin was shocked — who was this village woman daring to block his strike?
He pushed down harder, only to find the blade wouldn't budge.
Clara skillfully used a little strength and hurled both him and the blade aside!
Billy Lin stumbled back four or five steps, bumping into his companions behind him, forcing the chase to stop.
"Who are you? We're here to collect a debt from Liew's third son. What's it to you?" Billy Lin snapped, still surprised.
Only then did Lester clearly see who stood before him. His eyes lit up — never mind how a woman could disarm Billy Lin, he'd found a lifeline and immediately hid behind Clara, wailing:
"Wife, save me!"
But before he could finish, a sharp slap landed squarely on Lester's handsome face.
For a moment, everything went silent. Everyone froze.
Not just Lester, but Billy Lin and the others were dumbfounded.
Clara glanced at Lester's shocked face. Indeed, he was handsome, no wonder the original owner had been so captivated he didn't investigate and followed him home.
Who would've thought beneath that fine appearance lurked such a rotten scoundrel?
Looking at Alex and Ben lying on the ground unattended, and the crying twins, Clara felt a rising fury.
Seeing Lester's robust figure, far from malnourished, and recalling how selfishly he had abandoned their mother to starve to death, her eyes darkened. Suddenly, she thought, maybe it was better if this man got beaten to death by his debt collectors.
So, to the shock of everyone, Clara grabbed the dazed Lester, yanked him forward, and kicked him hard.
"The debt has its owner! Whoever owes money, you go find them!"
Lester, kicked out by his own wife, landed right in front of the debt collectors. Though unsure of Clara's intentions, Billy Lin seized the opportunity, calling his men to pin Lester down hard.
Clara looked around, saw a coil of straw rope hanging under the eaves, took it down, and tossed it to Billy Lin.
"Tie his hands and feet so he can't run. This is your debtor."
"Wife?!" Lester panicked, fear rising.
"What are you doing? I'm your husband! We were just married in front of the magistrate's office!" he pleaded.
But Clara didn't even glance at him. Instead, she instructed Billy Lin and the others how to tie the rope tighter, binding Lester like a dumpling, unable to move.
Lester, furious and embarrassed, was about to curse, but Clara quickly stuffed a rag into his mouth.
"Sob sob sob!" Lester struggled, eyes wide with rage — Clara, you evil woman, plotting to kill your husband!
Billy Lin was a bit stunned but still kicked Lester twice.
"Shut up! Stop howling like a pig!"
Clara clapped her hands and took two steps back. Looking seriously at Billy Lin, she said:
"You take him away. Don't harm him too badly, and don't beat him to a pulp. You've seen my family's situation — we can't afford to support him."
"So, please... just kill him."
Clara said the last sentence calmly, like predicting rain tomorrow. Billy Lin nodded instinctively at first, then snapped awake, glaring at her.
"You witch! You're playing me!"
Clara replied, "Brother, I'm serious. Remember, he must be killed!"
Her almond-shaped eyes looked straight at him, her gentle face full of deadly intent.
Billy Lin trembled and instinctively stepped back. "Are you really going to take Lester's life to pay the debt?"
Clara gave a short "hmph," ignoring both Billy Lin and Lester's bulging eyes.
""Boohoohoo!!!"
Evil woman! Clara, you evil woman! You want me dead! I'll kill you!
Clara walked over to Alex and Ben lying nearby, helped them up, and checked their injuries while glaring fiercely at Billy Lin and the others.
"This is my home. Though we're just orphans and widow, I, Clara, am not to be trifled with. Lester's in your hands now. If anyone causes trouble here or hurts my family again, I swear I'll drag him to meet the King of Hell myself!"
Alex and Ben stared in awe at their gentle stepmother, who checked their wounds tenderly but whose eyes burned with terrifying anger. They froze, afraid to move.
Billy Lin frowned deeply, deciding this woman was not someone to provoke. He wanted no further trouble and started to back off.
Alex and Ben had only fainted from hunger and exhaustion. Other than some scrapes on their arms, they were fine.
Clara breathed a sigh of relief and gathered the crying twins in front of her.
Though this woman had only been with them for three days, the four children realized they had someone to rely on now.
The youngest twin held Clara's hand tightly, her small fingers gripping one of Clara's, and she whispered, "Mom, I'm scared."
"Don't be. Mom's here," Clara said, a little surprised she was already embracing her new role as stepmother.
Hearing this, the little girl sniffled and nodded firmly.
Be brave, little Deb. Don't be afraid.
(End of Chapter)