Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 1195

The old cornmeal was meant for feeding pigs, and eating it felt like chewing on sand. Without water, swallowing it was nearly impossible. Emma felt her throat being scratched raw by the gritty substance, but if she didn't eat something soon, she feared she might actually die. After choking down the meal, the rain outside seemed almost mocking as it leaked through the roof. Thrilled, she cupped her hands to catch and drink a few drops, which helped clear her vision a bit.

She didn't bother calling out for help from the people outside. Pleading with them was pointless-they were as heartless as the cornmeal she had just forced down. Besides, her family couldn't scrape together twenty thousand dollars even if they wanted to.

She scoured the room, hoping against hope to find something else edible-maybe a few more kernels of corn. Her search was thorough, sparing not even the floorboards.

But her hands froze when they found something wrapped in newspaper under the bed. Pulling it out, the sight of a hundred-dollar bill peeking from the corner sent a shock through her. This wasn't the money Patrick had left behind; that was safely kept in her mother's purse for a potential trip to town. So, what was this cash doing here under the bed?

Counting it, she found exactly five thousand dollars. Her mother had been bedridden for years, with no chance to earn any money. This five thousand, added to what Patrick had left, would make up the twenty thousand they needed. Yet her mother hadn't handed the money over, instead spending the past few days haggling with the Odeberg family.

Emma had thought they were simply too broke, but discovering this stash made her feel cold to her core, shivering uncontrollably. Clutching the newspaper, she stormed to the door, hammering on it with unexpected strength.

up! Mom, open the door!" she shouted, her voice fueled by a mix of hunger

daughter might have already succumbed, having heard no sound from her all morning. But then, there was still the issue of the twenty thousand dollars. If she gave it away, what would they

vanished when

had been starving for days. Sighing, she turned to the Odeberg family, "The twenty

stalling for time, exchanged looks before finally agreeing to unlock the door once they heard Peyton's commitment to pay. In this remote village, law enforcement was scarce, with the only village head being a relative of the Odebergs. The Molls stood no chance against

door

the newspaper and quickly snatched the money from it. Adding it to the sum in her purse, she counted out

family.

leave, satisfied, leaving the onlookers surprised that Peyton actually managed to produce the money, given the Moll family's known financial

of empathy. "There's food on the stove, I've

They had always lived hand to mouth, relying on her to gather herbs from the

her towards the table. "Mom, where did this money really come from?" Emma pressed, not considering the possibility of it being her