Impressive, My Aunt

Helen Parker swaggered into Lily Evans's main room, crossing her legs with a look of haughty pride.

"What are you doing at my house? Trying to bring bad luck so early in the morning?" Lily Evans disliked Helen Parker on sight and quickly sent Margaret Evans to the kitchen, not wanting her mother to be upset.

"Lily, your family struck it rich—how can you keep it all to yourself?" Helen Parker raised her eyebrows smugly at Lily Evans. "Why don't you split half your silver with me?"

Lily Evans almost burst out laughing. "Where do you get the nerve to come asking me for money? We've already set up our own household and have nothing to do with the Evans family anymore. What money are you here for?"

Helen Parker smacked her lips. "I'm not here on behalf of the Evans family—I'm asking for myself. Lily, if you don't give me money, I guarantee you'll regret it!"

Lily Evans plopped herself onto the chair opposite Helen Parker. "Well, well, aren’t you a force to be reckoned with, Aunt Helen! I’m dying to see how you’ll make me regret it!"

Helen Parker snorted. "You know exactly what shameful things you’ve done. Where’s Lucky? Why don’t you dare let Lucky come out? Afraid I’ll let him know all about your dirty secrets?"

Lucky had gone to the mountain early to chop wood and wasn’t home. Lily Evans raised her eyebrows, annoyed. "What are you scheming now? Planning to sling mud at me again?"

"Tsk tsk, I saw you do something shameless with my own eyes! What, feeling guilty now? If you’ve got guts, let your foolish husband come out. Let’s see if he’ll still stand up for you after he finds out what you’ve done!" Helen Parker glared and stomped toward the inner room to look for Lucky.

"Don’t barge in! Is this your house?" Lily Evans grabbed Helen Parker.

Helen Parker, seeing Lily Evans stop her, was sure Lily was hiding something and afraid to let Lucky know. Her grin grew even wider. "I saw everything between you and the owner of Savory House! Lily, if you don’t pay me, I’ll go right out and tell the whole village your family got rich by selling yourself! Clearwater Village won’t tolerate a shameless woman like you—they’ll want to dunk you in the pig cage!"

Lily Evans looked at Helen Parker as if she were truly hopeless.

Her having an affair with the owner of Savory House? Lily hadn’t even met the boss yet—was she supposed to have a fling with someone she’d never seen, miles away?

"Three thousand silver ingots—hush money." Helen Parker shamelessly held out her hand. "If you don’t pay, I’ll let your scandal out for everyone to hear. And your foolish husband Lucky will be the first to turn against you!"

"Honey, I’m home!" Lucky’s cheerful voice called from outside.

"Lucky’s back!" Lily Evans’s voice softened immediately, and she got up to greet him.

Helen Parker grabbed Lily Evans and lowered her voice. "Lily, this is your last chance. Give me three thousand silver ingots now and I’ll leave without a word. If you don’t, I’ll tell your husband everything."

"Go ahead and tell him." Lily Evans shook off Helen Parker, rolled her eyes, and walked out.

Lucky came back carrying a huge bundle of firewood, sweating from the effort. He set the wood down and walked over.

"Are you tired?" Lily Evans pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

"Not tired at all!" Lucky shook his head. Chopping wood was nothing to him.

Helen Parker saw Lily Evans completely ignoring her and was furious. This girl was so arrogant—how could she not take her seriously!

"Lily, now that Lucky’s back, I’ll give you one last chance!" Helen Parker shouted, her voice trembling. She was here to extort money, but unless absolutely necessary, she didn’t want to make the scandal public—otherwise, she’d lose her leverage.

"Go ahead, who’s stopping you?" Lily Evans scoffed, rolling her eyes at Helen Parker. "Go on, say it. My husband and I are both listening."