A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Chapter 22

Archie's two older brothers were born to his father's wife, while he himself was the son of the third mistress.

The Yoder matriarch- a fierce and ruthless woman- tolerated her husband's affairs but drew the line when it came to anyone threatening her sons' inheritance.

And so, after giving birth to Archie, his mother was frequently persecuted by her. The relentless torment eventually took its toll, causing her to suffer severe mental distress and instability.

Without his mother's protection, Archie's place within the Yoder family was precarious. His survival to this point had been nothing short of a miracle. From a young age, he learned to conceal his talents, playing the fool and projecting an image of incompetence to avoid Mrs. Yoder's wrath.

Calliope had been so infatuated with Gideon in the past that she never really noticed Archie's plight.

always there smiling, ready

life that she learned the full extent of Archie's hardships. After taking control of the Yoder family, Archie had eliminated his two brothers without

into marrying into the Jansen family,

father, seeing him as nothing more than a useless layabout, simply turned

If only she had known sooner, perhaps his life wouldn't have been so

when they first met. She was staying at her grandfather's place in the countryside, and Archie was living with

hardly spoke, like a little mute. She would coax him out to catch frogs in the fields, fish in the creek, play all sorts of games, and share her

he began to open up. As they grew older, their bond deepened, and Archie became like a protective

with me? I'm carefree and happy as can be!"

drifts around, lazing

looked at Archie with a more serious