Chapter 248
At the break of dawn, Ethan White made his way to George Clark's house, carrying a pack of premium cigarettes and two bottles of fine liquor that gleamed in the morning light. His sister Luna had prepared them as New Year's gifts for her godfather.
George sat on the heated brick bed, puffing on his pipe while his two sons, Liam and Owen, flanked him. When Ethan entered, the brothers immediately stood to greet him.
"Ethan! You're here early!" Owen said warmly.
George squinted with a smile. "You sure didn't waste any time."
Ethan set the gifts on the table. "Uncle, these are from Luna."
George waved his hands in protest. "This is too much! She already brought over plenty yesterday—"
"If you refuse, she'll say I don't know how to behave," Ethan cut in with a chuckle. "Besides, these were gifts from her patients. She insisted you have them."
Liam clapped Ethan on the shoulder. "Come on, Ethan. No need for formalities between our families. If it weren't for Luna, who knows what would've happened to my sister."
The three settled on the bed, and Ethan passed around cigarettes. Amid the curling smoke, he broached the real reason for his visit.
"Uncle, I was thinking of fixing up the old house..."
George slapped his thigh. "Leave it to me! Liam and Owen trained as carpenters—they'll handle the doors and windows. I'll get some experienced hands to patch up the roof. We'll have it done in a day."
True to his word, George immediately set off to gather help, while the brothers followed Ethan home to take measurements.
The yard soon buzzed with activity. Villagers carried straw and buckets of mortar in and out. Ethan and the Clark brothers handed out cigarettes and water as the clatter of roof tiles echoed above.
By evening, new doors and windows were installed, and the roof had been completely repaired. Ethan Jackson, Luna's eldest nephew, brought firewood to heat the brick bed.
"Finally livable again," Ethan said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached. A villager rushed in, panting. "Mayor! Trouble—the Whites' place is in chaos!"
George frowned. "What now?"
"Ethan and Owen were beaten! They went to the Harris place for answers, but—"
Ethan's heart skipped. It seemed Maya's ordeal wasn't over yet.
At the Whites' home, Ethan cradled his broken arm, howling in pain, while Owen's leg bent at an unnatural angle. Jack White paced anxiously inside, and Clara wailed curses at the Harris family.
"The mayor's here!" someone shouted.
George strode into the yard, his expression grim, followed by several village officials. He examined the injured men, his frown deepening.
"What happened?"
Jack grabbed George's arm. "George, you have to stand up for us! Those Harris bastards—"
It turned out Ethan and Owen had gone to confront the Harris family that morning, only to find loan sharks demanding repayment. Frank Harris had already fled, leaving the enraged debt collectors to take their anger out on the White brothers.
"They even took Maya's dowry!" Clara wailed, pounding her chest.
George sighed. "Get them to the clinic first. This... will take careful handling."
As night fell, Ethan stood in front of his newly repaired house, gazing toward the Whites' home in the distance. He knew this storm was only beginning.