Chapter 146: Caleb Ward Rubbed His Hands Anxiously

"What should we do?" Caleb Ward rubbed his hands anxiously.

Agnes Ward slammed her palm on the table, rattling the teacups. Since recovering from her illness, the old woman's temper had grown worse. She was quick to throw things and curse, dragging ancestors into her tirades. Calvin Ward and his wife had learned to avoid her, either hiding in their rooms like frightened quails or making excuses to slip away to the fields.

"What? Are my words meaningless now?"

Caleb immediately wilted. His parents had warned him—Agnes had to be humored now. If they were truly kicked out, he might never get married.

Endure it!

"You're in charge, of course!" Caleb muttered, slinking out the door.

Agnes glanced at the items on the table, snorted, and turned over to lie down.

The day after tomorrow was Vanessa's wedding. Adrian Stone had already bought Elena's train ticket—his officer status secured her a sleeper berth. The journey from the county town to the provincial capital took over twenty hours, and a hard seat would leave one's bones aching.

When Elena tried to refuse, Adrian slapped the ticket on the table and said coldly, "I'll drive you there myself." Then he walked away without giving her a chance to argue.

This man... Elena sighed. Aside from his stubbornness, Adrian was flawless. He gave her money, bought her tickets, and often came to help with chores. her sister Rose sang his praises, practically eager to marry Elena off to him.

Elena massaged her temples. She couldn't cut ties with Adrian yet—his presence eased the side effects of her healing force. In her past life, frequent healing had left her suffering unbearable backlash, driving her to desperate measures.

Sometimes, she felt despicable, as if she were using him.

Did my heart turn darker after reincarnating?

She set aside the unanswerable questions. Right now, Vanessa's wedding was the priority. According to village tradition, a bride's family hosted a two-day feast before the wedding. Though it was just noodles, the villagers happily came to share in the joy.

As Elena and Grace headed out to help, the courtyard gate suddenly swung open.

"Brother!" Elena exclaimed in delight, grabbing the military-green duffel bag.

"I thought you weren’t on leave until the end of the year?" Her eyes sparkled.

Grace quickly pulled their brother inside. "You’ve gotten so thin and dark! Have you eaten? Let me make you some noodles." Daniel was the family’s hope—honest and dependable.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Daniel asked, "I’m starving. Sis, why are you back?" He noticed the refurbished courtyard, even the rebuilt stove, assuming Grace had done the work.

Grace stayed silent and headed to the kitchen.

"Rose has moved back in with her three kids," Elena said, bringing him a basin of water to wash his face.

"What? Did something happen in Reed Village?" Daniel frowned in confusion.

"She got divorced."

The towel slipped from Daniel’s hand with a splash. "Did that bastard Darren hit her?" His fists clenched with a crack. "Good riddance! If I’d been there, I’d have broken all three of his legs!"

Elena’s nose stung. Daniel was only twenty-two, yet he carried the weight of his sisters' lives. In an era where gossip could drown a person, he stood firmly by Rose without hesitation.

"Brother, it’s so good to have you back," she said softly.

Having someone to lean on—it felt solid.