Chapter 395: Vera Planted Her Hands on Her Hips

"Derek Harlan! My daughter's vanished without a trace, and you dare come demanding her from me?" Vera planted her hands on her hips, her voice shaking the courtyard walls. "Hand my girl over today, or I swear you'll regret it!"

Mayor Martin Reed entered to this chaotic scene, his frown deep enough to crush flies. Calvin Ward and his two sons were pinned to the ground by several thugs, their faces already bruised.

"Enough!" Martin's roar made the loan sharks immediately release their grip.

Calvin scrambled behind the mayor like a drowned rat, his clothes covered in footprints. "Mayor, you must uphold justice! Derek brought his men to vandalize our home and slander my daughter—"

"Bullshit!" Derek kicked over a water vat, sending splashes across the yard. "Vanessa stole six hundred dollars from me and ran off! Hand her over, or I'll burn this house down!"

His gang jeered in agreement: "Scamming us with a sham marriage!"

"Give her back!"

"Pay up!"

Daniel Ward clutched his swollen jaw, shrinking back, while his brother Aaron cowered like a quail. Calvin knew the truth—that wretched girl Vanessa had surely fled again. He'd seen it coming ever since she'd been caught stealing money last time.

But admitting it meant paying compensation. The old woman guarded their savings like her life depended on it. If she learned they'd have to fork out money, she'd skin him alive.

"My poor, doomed daughter..." Calvin suddenly beat his chest and collapsed to the ground in a theatrical wail. "Derek Harlan, you devil! You murdered my girl and now play the victim! Mayor, hear me—my daughter suffered two miscarriages in just six months of marriage from his beatings..."

The gathered villagers gasped. Everyone knew Derek was a brute, but Calvin had always been a silent pushover. This shrewish performance was astonishing.

Martin's face darkened. Both families were trouble, but... He caught Calvin's meaningful glance and immediately understood the game.

"Derek Harlan!" The mayor's voice cut through the noise. "Where's your proof Vanessa ran away?"