Inside the ancestral hall, Lester Liew and Kenny Liew were still going at each other's throats. The clan leader was stuck mediating an increasingly chaotic scene.
Fortunately, reinforcements arrived from the Liew family's old residence. Ryder and Rosie stepped forward to testify—it was Buck and Colt who had brought a group of older kids to bully them. Only then did Adam and Ben retaliate. The truth was finally laid bare.
Other children who had also been bullied eventually nodded under their parents' questioning, confirming the story.
Lester presented the ruined ball as evidence, with both witnesses and proof laid before them. Kenny Liew had no room left to argue.
The clan leader was speechless. Children squabbling wasn't usually his business, but now the grown-ups were brawling too—and both were known village rogues. The headache was real.
Seeing the crowd still gathered for the drama, he finally called for the ancestral hall to be opened, dragging both Lester and Kenny inside to sort things out.
Outside, Kenny's wife and two sons stood on the left. Clara stood on the right with her four children, the protective lines clearly drawn.
Kenny's wife scoffed, "Not even her own kids, and that stepmother shields them like they're gold. As if they'll remember her kindness someday."
Clara, hearing the remark loud and clear, shot a cold glance across.
"As long as they call me 'Mother,' I'll protect them for life. I'll raise them to know right from wrong—not like you lot, who bully the weak and call it reason."
Her voice remained calm, almost effortlessly confident. But it pierced through the woman like a blade. She shifted uncomfortably, feeling inexplicably small—though too afraid of Clara's fighting prowess to do more than mutter under her breath.
Clara couldn't be bothered to engage further. Arms crossed, she simply waited.
What she didn't realize was that behind her, the four kids had heard every word—and their carefully kept composure began to crumble. Their eyes rimmed red as they quietly took another step into the shadows, hurriedly wiping away tears.
But Clara's sharp senses caught the faint sniffle. She turned to find four sets of watery eyes staring back at her.
She chuckled, reaching out to ruffle their hair. Then, on a whim, bent down to place a kiss on each little forehead before pulling all four into her arms.
"Now you know to cry, huh? I keep telling you lot to practice martial arts properly, but no one listens. Otherwise, how would those two weaklings dare to bully you?"
From across the way, Buck and Colt, still sulking, huffed in indignation. Who are you calling weaklings?!
Ben peeked out from behind Clara's embrace, pulled a face at them, and stuck out his tongue. Just try me! What are you gonna do?
He got a light bop on the head in response. A silent warning: enough mischief.
The summer heat made their group hug extra warm—maybe too warm. Clara was about to let go when suddenly four pairs of arms clung tightly to her. The tall ones hugged her waist, the little ones latched onto her legs. She suddenly had four little koalas whining and sniffing, like little cubs begging for affection.
Clara's heart melted on the spot.
Her own kids really were the best.
Adam felt her hand gently stroking his back. His cheeks burned as the warmth of her embrace and the faint scent of soap wrapped around him. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to lean in, to pretend—just a little—that this was his real mother.
If only he could really be like his younger siblings, carefree in calling her "Mom," in clinging to her and telling her everything.
But if he did that, wouldn't it be a betrayal of his birth mother?
Clara saw it all in his eyes and let out a quiet sigh. The older the child, the more they carried inside. She would have to pay more attention to him in the days to come.
A quarter of an hour passed before the men emerged from the hall.
Lester wore a face full of indignation, but there was a flicker of triumph in his eyes.
Kenny, by contrast, looked like a deflated rooster, head down and eyes glaring daggers at Lester, seething with humiliation.
The clan leader took one look at the two families and, clearly done with the whole affair, walked off in silence.
Once the ancestral hall was locked again, both parties prepared to head home.
"Wait," Clara called out, stopping Kenny's family in their tracks.
All four flinched, bracing themselves.
She pointed to Buck and Colt. "Don't you owe someone an apology?"
Kenny's wife snapped, "Aren't you done yet? Kids fight. What's there to apologize for? Look how badly our Buck and Colt got beaten by your boys. We should be the ones demanding an apology!"
Clara didn't even blink. She waved her hand, and Adam and his siblings stepped forward.
She looked at them and said calmly, "It doesn't matter who started it. Fighting is wrong. Violence solves nothing."
Lester gave her a look like she'd grown two heads. Seriously, Clara? You're the poster child for solving things with violence.
She ignored him completely. This wasn't the apocalypse. This world had rules. It needed those rules.
Buck and Colt exchanged looks, inching backward.
Clara barked, "Come apologize! Or this isn't over."
She meant it exactly as it sounded—this chapter wouldn't close until they did.
To the two boys, it sounded like a threat. They quickly muttered, "S-sorry…"
Clara nodded at her kids. Though reluctant, Adam stepped forward and said, "We shouldn't have hit you so hard either. I'm sorry. But if you ever try to bully us again, I'll beat you up even worse!"
Clara winced. Oh dear. This child was too honest. That last bit could've stayed in his head.
"Come on, time for dinner." Clara waved the other family off like nothing had happened, then led her kids away.
Lester gave Kenny a triumphant snort and hurried to catch up with his family.
Back home, the dishes on the table had long since gone cold. But that didn't matter. The six of them sat together, eating with gusto.
After dinner, Lester cleaned up while Clara lit an oil lamp to check the kids' injuries.
Nothing serious. Chad and Deb were just dirty, no real harm.
Adam and Ben had a few bruises. Clara pressed one, and both boys hissed through their teeth. It hurt.
But then, for some reason—maybe seeing each other wince, maybe remembering something funny—they burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Clara rolled her eyes. Getting beaten up was hilarious now?
Ben grinned mischievously. "Mom, I pinned Colt down and locked his neck with my leg. Then I just kept punching his face! He totally lost it!"
Mom?
Clara's eyebrows shot up. Did… did she just win another one over?
Ben, thinking nothing of it, kept describing how Adam had taken down Buck. Then, sneaking a glance at Clara's face, he wondered if she noticed what he'd called her.
But Clara, appearing completely focused on wiping Deb's face, didn't react at all.
Ben deflated a little.
Inside, Clara was practically howling with laughter.
Gotcha.
(End of chapter)
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