So Much Silver

When the carriage rolled up to the Prince of Qin's Manor, the three of them hopped off, their footsteps quick as they went straight to find Lily Evans.

"Lily..." Sam Evans shuffled his feet and hung his head, feeling terribly awkward. He was getting on in years, yet not only could he not help his niece, he had to come begging for money. The shame was almost enough to bury him alive—he felt like he couldn’t show his face to anyone.

Lily Evans, for her part, acted just as she always did—her attitude toward Sam Evans as calm and steady as ever. But the moment she caught sight of her uncle’s face, bruised and battered, she insisted the manor’s doctor come check his injuries. Only when the doctor assured her there was nothing serious did she finally let out a breath of relief.

Lily’s kindness only made Sam Evans feel even more guilty. He muttered, "Lily, you treat your third uncle so well, but I’m no help at all. All I do is make trouble for you. I really don’t know where to put my face."

"Uncle, don’t say that." Lily Evans gave Sam Evans’s shoulder a reassuring pat, then slid a beautifully crafted box toward him. "Uncle, money’s no big deal. But I just want to ask you again—are you absolutely sure this silver is for paying off debts?"

Sam Evans nodded so hard his neck nearly snapped. "Yes, yes! It’s all for paying off Jasper Cheng’s debts. If we don’t settle it soon, those creditors will come for Lana Evans. I’d rather die than let that happen!"

Arthur Evans chimed in, "Don’t worry, Lily. I’ll help get Sam Evans home safe, and I’ll see that the silver gets where it needs to go. I won’t let anything happen to Lana Evans."

Lily Evans nodded. "Thank you, Arthur. I’m counting on you."

With the silver in hand, Sam Evans and Arthur Evans hurried back to Evans Manor. The whole way, Sam Evans clutched the box like it was his lifeline, his heart pounding with worry and hope.

As soon as they arrived, Susan Evans was waiting anxiously by the door. The moment she saw Sam Evans, she rushed over and grabbed his arm. "Old man, you’re back! Did you get the silver?"

Sam Evans nodded, his voice trembling with relief. "Yes, yes, Susan. Lily gave us the silver. We can finally pay off the debt!"

Susan Evans’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. She clutched Sam Evans’s hand tightly, her voice shaking. "Thank goodness for Lily! If it weren’t for her, our family would have been ruined!"

Arthur Evans smiled and said, "Alright, let’s not stand around crying. We’ve got work to do! The sooner we pay off the debt, the sooner Lana Evans can breathe easy."

Sam Evans wiped his eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded. "You’re right, Arthur. Let’s do this right away! We can’t let those creditors have another excuse to come knocking."

Susan Evans hurried to fetch Lana Evans, who’d been waiting nervously in her room. The moment she appeared, she rushed straight into her parents’ arms, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Dad, Mom... is it true? The debt is paid?" Lana Evans’s voice trembled with hope and disbelief, her eyes shining with tears.

Sam Evans nodded, his own eyes moist. "Yes, Lana! Lily came through for us again. We’re safe now, child—no one will dare bully you again!"

Lana Evans burst into tears, clutching her parents tightly. "Thank you, Lily! Thank you, everyone!"

Arthur Evans grinned. "Come on, let’s not get too sentimental. Once we pay off the debt, I’ll treat everyone to a feast at Arthur’s Shop!"

Susan Evans wiped her tears, her face breaking into a smile. "That’s right! We’ll celebrate together. Lily deserves a mountain of thanks!"

Lana Evans nodded fiercely, her eyes red but sparkling with hope. "Yes! When this is all over, I want to personally thank Lily and everyone who helped us."

The family gathered close, their hearts finally at ease. The heavy burden of debt had been lifted, and the air was filled with laughter, tears, and the promise of better days ahead.

But outside, the wind was picking up, carrying whispers of trouble yet to come. The Evans family’s ordeal might be over for now, but Lily Evans knew better than to let her guard down.

She gazed out the window, her eyes sharp and determined. No matter what storms lay ahead, Lily Evans was ready—her family would never face hardship alone again.