Chapter 110
Luna White stared daggers at Samuel Jackson, her nails digging deep into her palms. It was clear Paul Jackson intended to drive her youngest son to ruin today, but she'd rather die herself than let anything happen to her child. Divorce it is! The thought crystallized in her mind with startling clarity for the first time. She couldn't spare a thought for how she'd survive afterward—saving her son was all that mattered now.
Before her children, she would always remain their strongest protector.
"Paul Jackson! Fine, we'll divorce. But half the family savings belong to me—I earned it. I'm taking all three boys with me, and from today onward, we sever all ties with the Jackson family." Luna stood tall, her voice ringing with conviction.
Luna's sister Iris gave an approving nod. At least her sister wasn't being foolish—she was finally standing up for what was rightfully hers. Compared to their other sister Maya, Luna had far more backbone.
"Bullshit!" Paul exploded, face purpling with rage. "You shameless whore! You think you can take my money and run off with your bastards? I should be charging you child support for all these years! Get out now—take your brats and disappear!" His entire body trembled with fury. The usually docile Luna daring to demand money from him was unthinkable.
Luna's laugh was icy. "Paul Jackson, my conscience is clear. Samuel is your biological son whether you acknowledge it or not. I want my share—I've kept accounts. Your mother took seven hundred eighty-five dollars from me. Give me three hundred ninety now, and I'll leave immediately. Otherwise, we'll take this to the village mayor!"
Paul saw red, his hand twitching with the habitual urge to strike her. A cold snort from Andrew Smith made him stumble back. The soldier wasn't someone to trifle with.
"No lover, huh?" Paul's beady eyes darted to Andrew as he shouted, "Everyone see this? An official seducing a married woman and assaulting me! I'll make sure the whole village knows!" He'd decided to pin this on Andrew, determined to make Luna suffer in silence.
Luna paled, ready to protest, but Iris gripped her arm. "Go ahead, call everyone! Andrew is my fiancé—let the mayor see what happens when you slander a military officer!"
Andrew stepped forward, his gaze glacial. "Sister Luna, summoning the mayor is perfect. The bruises on you are evidence. Current marriage laws consider domestic violence a crime. We won't need to give him a single cent—we can send him to jail instead." He deliberately exaggerated the consequences. For ignorant bullies like Paul, fear worked best.
Paul's face drained of color. "Lies! Since when can't a man discipline his wife? This is family business—even the police won't interfere! I never said anything—don't you dare frame me!" His bravado evaporated instantly as he backtracked.
"Family business?" Iris's lips curled. Suddenly she lunged forward. Haunted by memories of Frank Harris's beatings in her past life, she'd trained extensively in self-defense. Handling trash like Paul was child's play.
In one fluid motion, she grabbed Paul's arm and flipped him over her shoulder, slamming him onto the ground. Before he could react, her elbow drove into his stomach. As Paul writhed, she rained down punches and kicks.
"You dare hit my sister? You call this family business? Well, a sister-in-law beating her brother-in-law is also family business!" Each word punctuated by another brutal strike. "From now on, I'll beat you every time I see you—let's see who can stop this 'family business'!"
Paul's pig-like squeals drew a crowd of villagers. Luna hastily pulled her sister back. "Iris, stop! He's not worth it!"
Iris delivered one final kick before snarling, "Listen well, Paul Jackson! My sister is divorcing you! She married you without demanding a single dowry, even used her own savings to pay your medical bills and support your family—and this is how you repay her? Ungrateful worm!"
As Paul curled into a whimpering ball on the ground, several villagers already sprinted off to alert the Jackson family.