Chapter 25

Monday, Simon attended school, while Isabel had classes at the University of Ardenfall. Everyone went about their business. Happah remained at home, tending the fields, feeding the pigs, and managing the household. Alex, having lost his job due to a construction site incident, was confined to the house. In the afternoon, he fetched water and sponged Blake down. Hannah had instructed him to do so daily, explaining it was inappropriate for an unmarried woman like Blake to be frequently exposed to a man's body. Though not particularly bright, Alex was conscientious. He sponged Blake carefully.

“Alex, you don’t have to sponge me down every day! Didn’t you just do it yesterday!” Blake protested, slightly embarrassed.

“No problem,” Alex replied simply. “My sister told me to. She said you should be clean every day. Anyway, I have nothing to do at home. I’m too stupid and lost my job.”

Blake was touched by the Galvez family’s kindness. He vowed to help once he recovered.

“Who said you lost your job?” Isabel entered unexpectedly.

Blake’s eyes brightened at her arrival. “Isabel, you’re back!”

“Yes, I just finished class. Come on, Alex, let’s go to the construction site.”

“To the construction site? Wasn’t I fired?” Alex was bewildered.

Alex was overjoyed at the prospect of returning to work and readily prepared to leave with Isabel. Isabel knew he had been despondent, feeling useless and self-reproachful. Returning to work, she felt, would restore his sense of purpose.

They arrived at the Sunpeak Construction site. Upon Isabel and Alex's appearance, someone informed Joseph, who approached with his men.

“Humph! Isabel, Alex, you dare show yourselves! Are you courting death?” Joseph sneered. Alex instinctively stepped in front of Isabel, shielding her. Isabel observed this act of protectiveness. While Alex was somewhat slow-witted, she saw his genuine kindness—a stark contrast to the Clyde brothers' heartlessness. “Joseph, you have no right to speak here,” Isabel declared.

“Ha!” Joseph laughed boisterously. “You've come to my territory and say I have no right? Who do you think you are?”

“Beat them up! No cameras; I've removed them. They're asking for it. This is my territory!” Joseph gritted his teeth, giving the order.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman’s voice cut through the air. “Say that again. Whose territory is it?”

Everyone parted to make way for the woman, impeccably dressed in black, with subtly curled hair, heavy makeup, and striking red lips. Several black-clad bodyguards preceded her, creating an imposing aura.

“Who… who are you?” Joseph stammered, apprehensive.

A bodyguard identified her: “This is Mrs. Luther, wife of Mr. Luther of Sunpeak Construction.”

Joseph’s face paled. A lackey pointed out, “Mr. Wales, isn’t this your sister?”

Everyone on the site knew Joseph was the brother-in-law of Benjamin Luther, Sunpeak Construction's CEO. No one dared cross him—until now.

“Humph! Sister? I have no such fool for a brother!” Mrs. Luther declared loudly, prompting whispers among the workers. “He's Mr. Luther's brother-in-law?” “How’s that possible?” “Yes, everyone knows that.”

Mrs. Luther sneered, “Someone, beat him! Teach this fool a lesson!” Her bodyguards advanced on Joseph.

“Don’t! My sister is CEO Luther’s…woman!” Joseph pleaded.

“That temptress? How dare the brother of a mistress be so arrogant! You amount to nothing!” Mrs. Luther thundered. “I am Mrs. Luther. This entire site belongs to my family. Since when did the Wales family call the shots?” She then addressed Joseph’s lackey, “Anyone who helps him will be beaten and kicked off this site!”

Silence fell. Joseph’s lackeys distanced themselves. Whispers arose: "He's just the mistress's brother. His arrogance won't last." "The mistress is nothing; she has no inheritance rights, let alone her brother." Mrs. Luther, the legitimate wife, effectively controlled half of Sunpeak Construction.

"What are you waiting for? Go get him!" Mrs. Luther commanded, arms crossed. The bodyguards swarmed Joseph, delivering a brutal beating. Unexpectedly, the construction workers erupted in applause. “Well done, Mrs. Luther!” “It’s about time! That Joseph Wales always bullied us!” “He even docked our pay!”

Joseph, beaten half to death, sought refuge with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Luther. Benjamin immediately slapped him.

“Benjamin, why… why did you hit me?” Joseph sputtered.

“It’s your fault! Why did you go after a fool at the site? You even attracted my wife!”

Mrs. Luther entered, “Didn’t you give him the face?”

“Honey…” Benjamin stammered, fearful of his wife.

“Honey, I was wrong! It was all that jerk's doing!”

“Too late,” Mrs. Luther stated indifferently.

A group then arrived, announcing themselves with fanfare. “Mr. Luther, Madam Luther,” the man began, a smirk on his face. “You… you are…” “Oceania Group, Chris Jovian.”