Chapter 88

"Stop right there!" Mayor George Clark slammed his hand on the table, veins bulging at his temples.

Mrs. Martin had intended to drop her ultimatum and leave, letting the Clarks stew over it. She hadn’t expected the mayor to explode on the spot.

Thinking of her son’s future, she steeled herself and turned with a cold smirk. "What now, Mayor Clark? Have you finally agreed to our terms?" Her words were like pouring oil on fire.

"Harold’s mother, are you deliberately sabotaging this marriage?" George couldn’t tolerate his daughter being insulted like this. If they dared to humiliate her to her face, who knew how they’d mistreat her after marriage?

In that instant, he resolved to call off the engagement—but not without making Harold Martin pay for his audacity.

Mrs. Martin flicked her handkerchief dismissively. "Oh, Mayor Clark, such accusations! We came in good faith, but your family’s the one playing hard to get. If word gets out, it’s your reputation that’ll suffer." She shot Lily a disdainful glance. "A girl like her, acting all high and mighty? In the old days, she’d have been punished for her shame!"

She knew full well that if things came to blows, the Clarks would lose. Harold had another girl at the factory—one whose uncle was a high-ranking official. Compared to Lily, that match was like heaven and earth.

"Get out! I’d sooner marry a stray dog than Harold Martin!" Lily sobbed, lunging forward. "A family like yours deserves to rot without heirs!"

Mrs. Martin’s face darkened. "Lily Clark, don’t you dare be ungrateful! Marrying into our family would be an honor!"

George pulled his daughter behind him, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Fine! Then remember this: if Harold Martin ever sets foot in this village again, I’ll make sure he regrets it!"

"Mayor Clark, this is a new era!" Mrs. Martin forced a defiant tone. "If this escalates, let’s see whose daughter loses face first!"

"Ha! I got Harold that factory job—I can just as easily send him back to the fields," George sneered. "Test me if you dare."

The Martins slunk away in defeat. The moment the gate shut, Lily collapsed into her mother’s arms, wailing.

"Enough!" George kicked over a stool. "You should’ve thought of this sooner!"

Lily fled into the house and buried her face in the bedding. Outside, George and Clara sat on the doorstep in heavy silence.

The night wind swirled with dead leaves, mirroring the turmoil in their hearts.