Chapter 23 You Don’t Deserve Her
Two elders stood beside Raine, gazes full of “gentle concern.”
Stella knew exactly who they were-two old snakes Raine had long since paid off. Of course they were backing her.
James, meanwhile, stood off to the side like a coward.
Stella sneered coldly.
“Don’t forget who saved the Johnson family with her ceramics in the first place! If my mother was so unlucky, none of you would be wearing suits today. You’d be on the streets begging for food!”
“Now wait just a—”
“You call today unlucky, fine. But what if, down the line, you’re lying sick in bed, and your kids say it’s an unlucky day and decide to get rid of you? Don’t forget what the priest said-karma always comes back around.”
The elders fell silent. Some even shot nervous glances at their children, looking deeply uncomfortable.
The Johnson family had been around for generations. Everyone knew of at least one case where a child schemed to steal the family business by hurting their own parents.
Now that Stella brought it up, the elders’ eyes all sharpened.
None of them wanted to be next.
With the old guard quiet, none of the younger generation dared to speak.
Stella stepped forward again.
But Raine still blocked her path.
“It’s an unlucky day, an unlucky hour-if your mother’s spirit is forced in today, who knows if she’ll ever be reincarnated…”
Still not letting up?!
Stella’s patience snapped. She was about to shove Raine aside when a deep voice came from behind.
“My mother-in-law passed early. She’s had more than enough time to build her blessings. If anything, she’s already been reincarnated into a life of peace and comfort.”
Moses stepped forward, one arm wrapping firmly around Stella’s shoulders.
His gaze was cold as it bored into Raine.
“But you lot? Alive and well, yet hoarding bad karma with every breath. Aren’t you afraid of ending up
hell-or worse?”
in
1/4
Why is Moses here?!
Raine’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. She didn’t dare say a word.
She didn’t want Stella’s mom to be buried there.
But she hadn’t expected Moses himself to show up.
Everyone else in the Johnson family was stunned.
James was the first to recover.
“Oh-Moses! What a surprise! I wasn’t prepared for guests-
“You weren’t prepared,” Moses said coldly, “and you still dared get in the way of my family matters? If you were prepared, would you get in my way then?”
His brow arched, voice sharp as a blade.
James turned pale. Without hesitation, he shoved Raine aside.
“What are you doing standing there?! Stella’s mother was my first wife! Her urn belongs in our cemetery!”
Raine’s face flushed red with rage. She covered her face and fled.
James quickly plastered on a smile and waved Stella forward.
“Go on-put it in, of course. We welcome her!”
Stella watched him, a bitter ache in her chest.
This was the man who tormented her mother for years. He wasn’t worth a single tear.
She faltered slightly, but the weight of Moses’s hand on her shoulder steadied her.
“Let’s welcome our mom home,” he said gently.
She nodded.
Mom. We did it.
She looked back at him-his suit wrinkled, his expression serious-and knew instantly:
He had come all this way, on a tight schedule, just to stand beside her.
And he’d called her mother Mom.
“Thank you, Moses,”
She gave him a small, sincere smile-and stepped forward to the cemetery.
Moses watched her carefully set it down and finally seemed at ease.
2/4
Chapter 23 You Don’t Deserve Her
Liam leaned over and whispered. “The office is pushing for an update.”
“Let’s go.”
Moses turned and walked away, his pace urgent.
As if he’d only come for this one reason.
James watched him leave, calculation flickering behind his eyes.
If Moses cares this much for Stella… maybe we can turn that into real profit for the Johnsons.
The gate of the cemetery was closed.
Moses was gone.
Stella stayed prayers.
Outside, the rest of the Johnsons had left.
Inside, Stella was alone.
She prayed with deep reverence-until a sudden flash of fire broke the silence.
Before she could react, flames surged toward her, and she instinctively raised her arm.
“Aah-!”
Pain ripped through her arm.
She stumbled backward, eyes wide as she saw the fire engulf the cemetery.
It was spreading fast.
“The urn-!”
“Star!”
Shane’s voice rang out from a side door.
Before Stella could grab the urn, Shane had already lunged forward and grabbed her arm.
“It’s dangerous! Come with me, now!”
“No! My mom’s urn is still inside—”
“There’s no time! Forget that damn thing!”
Shane had been in Capital City for days now-and he’d already discovered the truth.
Stella… was no orphan.
+8 Pearls
3.4
